Horticulture Connected 2014 Volume 1 Issue 1

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

February 2014

News, Analysis and Trends in Landscape and Amenity Horticulture

BACK TO THE FUTURE

WITH BARRY LUPTON

PRICING IN A CONTRACTED MARKET WITH COLM KENNY

EXPORTENTIAL WITH NEVILLE STEIN

CHANGE UNDERFOOT

WITH CHRISTY BOYLAN

CONNECTINGHORTICULTURE

Horticulture.ie Portal Site for Horticulture in Ireland HortiTrends.ie Daily and Breaking News. Events and Tenders JobsInHorticulture.ie Latest Amenity & Fresh Produce Jobs PlantConnector.ie Connecting Ornamental Plant Growers with Plant Retailers GardenGuide.ie Consumer Website Promoting Horticulture Businesses FreshProduceNews.ie Latest News for Edible Horticulture in Ireland.

HorticultureConnected.co.uk UK News, Events & Trends.

‘GardenGuide’ New Seasonal Consumer Print Magazine - coming soon ‘Own Brand’ Option Available Business Suphort Services Branding Brochures Logos

Web design eCommerce Adwords

Social Media for Business

INprint

ONline

SOcial

To find out more about our specialist marketing, business support & development services contact Joseph on 087 921 2044 or joseph@horticulture.ie

ED’S LETTER

EDITOR BARRY LUPTON

W

LEANING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY

elcome to the first issue of HORTICULTURE CONNECTED, the only trade publication dedicated to commercial horticulture in Ireland. In this, and subsequent issues, the HORTICULTURE CONNECTED team will be bringing you up to date with news, analysis, opinion and technical guidance on all aspects of horticultural activity.

The timing of this first issue is perfect. After several years cutting cloth, trimming down, shedding waste, rationalisation, consolidation, and hundreds of other adjectives used to describe recessionary hardship, we’re finally poised to get moving once again. We’re focused, willing to adapt, flexible, realistic, and perhaps most importantly, we have a collective mindset and lean infrastructure capable of recognising and exploiting opportunities. 2014 is the year we move beyond the toe-curling clichés of upturns and green shoots, toward the forging of a genuinely sustainable sector. We will never be completely

immune to the vagaries of the market, but the core of what we do underpins the entire system of life on earth. All we have to do is convince everyone else.

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED is a firm step in that direction.

To kick of this launch issue, we’ve drawn comment, opinion and analysis from Ireland’s leading figures and bodies. Renowned plant breeder, PAT FITZGERALD presents a hardhitting and singular vision for the future of the sector. To capture just how the market has changed, I travel back to 2007 to revisit an interview with the famed nurseryman and outspoken industry commentator and activist, PHILIP MOREAU. Providing clear advice on how to maximise opportunity in 2014 are ALCI President PETER O’TOOLE, who explains how contractors can utilise the Home Renovation Incentive scheme to secure contracts; Landscape estimating specialist, COLM KENNY sets out some clever strategies for contract pricing; retail consultant, LIAM KELLY shares insight on how retailers can engage customers to

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

Editor: Barry Lupton editor@horticulture.ie Advertising: Joseph Blair 087 921 2044 joseph@horticulture.ie Subscriptions: subscriptions@horticulture.ie Design & Layout: Tanya Gilsenan tanya@horticulture.ie Design Concept: Faye Keegan www.fayekeegandesign.com Publishers: HortiTrends www.HortiTrends.ie joseph@hortitrends.ie +353 (0)87 921 2044

News, Analysis and Trends In Landscape & Amenity Horticulture

20 The Cutlers 33 to 34 Parliament St Dublin 2 Ireland +353 (0)87 921 2044 www.horticulture.ie

make sales, while the familiar, and highly regarded, NEVILLE STEIN details how Irish growers can exploit the UK market. Also detailing how the industry can better utilise tools to hand is MIKE NEARY, Manager of Horticulture with Bord Bia. From the wider horticultural landscape, GLDA Chairman, GARY FORAN, explores the development of Irish design and the pivotal role the association is playing in securing world class legacy. In Change Underfoot, DR CHRISTY BOYLAN traces the development of Irish parks and presents a number of strategies for how they evolve to meet future challenges. We share some photos of award winning landscapes from 2013 and TONY WILLIAMS, Irish Landscape Institute President, provides insight on how the national Landscape Strategy will impact the sector. On the technical front, DR THEODORA LOLA-LUZ presents a detailed process for writing grant applications, while COLMAN WARDE explains how correct soil sampling can assist in developing efficient fertiliser programmes for sportsturf managers.

It’s a packed issue, but it’s just a start.

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED is your publication and we urge you to use it. Contact the office today with your news, comments and stories that need to be shared. ✽

See www.Horticulture.ie for more news

Cover image: Andreas Krappweis Printers: Turners Printing.

Earl Street, Longford.

Distribution:3000 copies distributed across Ireland North and South to Businesses and Professionals in the following Sectors: Landscape / Architects / Garden Retail / Florists / Nurseries / Greenkeepers / Sports Surfaces / Local Authority’s & Parks Departments / Machinery / Education

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

1

CONTENTS

Contents NEWS

IN PICTURES

03

28

HORTICULTURE NEWS

GENERAL 06

Photos of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI) 2013 Award Winners

FOUNDATIONS TO BUILD ON Mike Neary, Manager of horticulture with bord bia, details the host of programmes, initiatives and activities you can use to build a stronger business in 2014

CONSTRUCTION 30

SALES MADE EASY

32

Leading retail consultant Liam Kelly details how you can increase sales by incorporating seasonality into your plant merchandising with the help of the 5 Es

DESIGN 14

DESIGN LEGACY Gary Foran, Chairman of the garden & Landscape Designers Association, records the historical evolution of irish design and the pivotal role played by the association in raising it to international standards

NURSERY 18

BACK TO THE FUTURE Barry Lupton revisits an interview with Philip Moreau carried out in 2007 to pin down how things have really changed

22

24

EXPORTENTIAL

LANDSCAPE 34

CHANGE UNDERFOOT Dr Christy Boylan examines how Ireland’s parks and green spaces are evolving to meet new challenges

37

TRENDS IN THE LANDSCAPE OF MAN ILI President Tony Williams explores how issues impacting Landscape Architects are of concerns to us all

INSIGHT 40

TAKE 2014 FOR GRANTED Grant writing expert, Dr Theodora Lola-Luz details how you can improve your business by accessing the right funding

COMMERCIAL / SPORTS SURFACES 44

Neville Stein brings us up to date on how Irish growers can exploit the UK retail market

2

13.5…THE LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2014 ALCI President Peter O’Toole outlines how work undertaken by the association to secure landscape work as part of the Home Renovation Incentive Scheme could have a huge impact for Irish contractors

SINGULAR VISION Respected Nursery-man and industry commentator, Pat FitzGerald, sets out a 10 point strategy for protecting the future of commercial horticulture in Ireland

FROM SPECULATION TO RE-EVALUATION Landscape quantity specialist, Colm Kenny explains how contractors can improve profits with smarter pricing

RETAIL 10

AWARD WINNING GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

DON’T GUESS IT, SOIL TEST IT...

Sportsturf specialist, Colman Warde details how effective soil sampling and testing can be utilised to underpin an efficient turfgrass fertilising programme

01 / NEWS

HORTICULTURE NEWS INTERNATIONAL ROSE BREEDING AWARD FOR IRELAND AN IRISHMAN has carried off the most coveted prize awarded by the New Zealand Rose Society for a new rose at its national convention in Palmerston North. A new shrub rose bred by David Kenny, and entered by Tasman Bay Roses of Motueka was awarded the Gold Star of the South Pacific Award at the international rose trial grounds at the Esplanade recently. The russet red, free-flowering rose has yellow stamens, and was judged on its performance over two years’ growth.

Mr Kenny, a rose breeder for 30 years, said he was shocked to win the prize.

That was partly because the rose did not look as spectacular as some others on the day - the first time he had seen it growing in the trial grounds. But the judges had been watching its progress

MINISTER REJECTS APPEAL FROM NURSERY GROUP THE MINISTER of State for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Tom Hayes TD has flatly rejected a proposal put forward by a group of Irish tree nurseries for compensation relating to the financial impact of Ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea).

In December last, a group of seven nurseries from the South Tipperary and Cork regions, who between them represent over 70% of the amenity tree production in Ireland and employ over 450 staff, prepared a detailed proposal for the Minister. In it, the group detailed how, since the 1980s, they had been encouraged to explore import displacement and more importantly,

DAVID KENNY

THE AWARD-WINNING KENTROOPER SHRUB ROSE

through the seasons to assess it as the new rose that was most likely to succeed.

Mr Kenny said the rose, named ‘Kentrooper’, took some of its genetic material from a traditional red, ground-cover rose from the Netherlands. “Back in Europe landscape roses are very popular, and we have been trying to get good,

healthy varieties developed.”

His part of the process involved many hours in the glasshouse, painstakingly hand-pollinating to establish the new line. It was then grown on at Tasman Bay, and trialled in Palmerston North.

The whole process can take eight to 10 years before a new rose is released commercially. ✽

the production of Ash, the result of which was huge investment in land and infrastructure. They also detailed how the confluence of the downturn, the loss of REPS and AEOS and two successive record cold winters had decimated their businesses.

The advent of Chalara fraxinea presented the nurseries with another financial disaster. “The first we heard about Ash sales being suspended was Friday 12th of October. Despite their monitoring of the disease since 2008,” explained John Murphy, owner of Anneveigh Plants and group coordinator. “The inaction on behalf of the Department left us with huge stock of unsaleable Ash. A situation that continues to this day and we estimate the stock value to be in excess of €1.7 million.” Making their case to the Minister, the group presented evidence

of compensatory payments being made to pig, poultry, potatoes and vegetable farmers for a variety of disease, weather and contamination issues. The group simply wanted to be viewed in the same light and proposed a package of compensation that would include measures to destroy the existing stock, thus limiting further spread of the disease.

In his rejection of the proposal, the Minister stated that although he acknowledged the comprehensiveness of the proposal and the need to work closer with nurseries, he was not in a position to offer any compensation for losses incurred due to the impact of Chalara fraxinea. Commenting on the letter, John, said, “Do you think we really expected any different from this government? We are not finished with this yet. Not by a long way.” ✽

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

3

01 / NEWS

IN BRIEF

PHILIP MOREAU

The New Year brings a time for taking stock of the year gone by, and setting goals and objectives for the year ahead.

Irish businesses are the most optimistic in Europe in terms of their 2014 prospects, according to Grant Thornton’s International Business Report, with 84% of businesses expecting turnover to grow this year compared to an EU average of 52%.

Irish food companies are similarly optimistic, with some 75% of exporters expecting their export sales to grow and more than 8 out of 10 reported higher or similar turnover in the last 12 months, according to Bord Bia’s end of year client survey. ✽

RENTES SPRING TROLLEY FAIR Building on the success of their 2013 trolley fair, which attracted in excess of 200 buyers during over two days, Rentes Plants are delighted to announce an even bigger event for 2014. On the 18th and 19th of February, Rentes will host buyers from home and abroad to view over 700 top quality individual plant varieties. In addition to quality plants and expert assistance, attendees can look forward to top quality food and refreshments served throughout the day. The event will represent a great opportunity to network and touch base with the various garden centres, landscapers and designers. For more information visit at www.rentes.ie ✽

NEW VENUE FOR GARDEN SHOW IRELAND Garden Show Ireland is moving to the magnificent setting of Antrim Castle Gardens. New dates for 2014 are the 9th to 11th of May. The new venue is a few minutes walk from the centre of Antrim town, close to the M2. It is recognised as one of the most unique and historically intact gardens under public ownership in Ireland, containing over four centuries of garden heritage. It has been beautifully restored by Antrim Borough Council, and incorporates newly revived garden features with fully accessible pathways through its 60 acres of parkland. ✽

4

PHOTO BY KORALEY NORTHEN

IRISH BUSINESSES CONFIDENT ABOUT FUTURE PROSPECTS

Prestigious Award for Philip Moreau of Glenbrook Nurseries PHILIP MOREAU, one of Ireland’s leading nurserymen - and contributor to this launch issue - was recently

awarded one of the highest accolades achievable in commercial horticulture.

At the IPPS Conference in Kegworth, Derbyshire, held at the end of September, Philip and another renowned plantsman, Chris Lane were jointly awarded the Robert Garner Award. The award recognises the contribution of the ‘hands-on’ propagator to the horticulture industry. It was instigated in 1993 to mark the silver jubilee of the IPPS (Great Britain and Ireland region).

The award is made every five years and the recipient is chosen by a panel of past IPPS Presidents. It addition to recognising a ‘hands-on’ propagator, the award also acknowledges plants skills, experience and willingness to share and pass on techniques. Robert Garner helped to start the Great Britain and Ireland Region of IPPS and was for 30 years chief propagator at East Malling Research Station, where he was instrumental in the development of the internationally known series of East Malling fruit tree rootstocks. ✽

GAIRDÍNÍ NA LUS TV SERIES INSIDER LOOK AT BOTANIC GARDENS

The TG4 6-part series goes behind the scenes to give the public an insight into the day to day work and lives of the staff of the gardens. It follows the ongoing work of the gardeners both behind the scenes in the nurseries and in the public grounds. It also presents the vital role being played by the botanists to study and safeguard our natural heritage. It continues to screen until the 16th of February.

✽

DESIGN STUDENTS MAkE AN IMPACT ON MALAHIDE BOTANIC GARDENS LANDSCAPE DESIGN STUDENTS from Senior College Dun Laoghaire, who are currently working at Malahide Botanic Gardens as part of a pilot scheme between the college and The Parks Department at Fingal County Council, are set to make an impact with proposals to redevelop the existing alpine yard. The student group has been working on the alpine yard for several months removing undesired plants and helping to uncover the renowned Tresco Wall. The students are currently preparing proposals for

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

the yard’s redevelopment and hope to secure funding over the coming months. The group has made contact with several experts around the country and welcomes input from industry and the public with knowledge of Southern Hemisphere plant species.

Senior College Dun Laoghaire offers a two-year Diploma in Landscape Design with formal progression links to year three of several Landscape Architecture programmes. The college will shortly be moving to its new, purpose-built campus in the heart of Blackrock and will be rebranded as Blackrock Further Education Institute. For more information visit www.scd.ie. ✽

01 / NEWS

GRUMPY GARDENER AGENCY AND INNOVATION VOUCHER FOR SOWEASYGROW EOIN FLAHERTY has added the Grumpy Gardener range of consumer retail products to his existing Irish produced products, SeaGrow and the consumer GrowGrid kit. In a busy season for the new business, he has also been awarded a research grant under the Enterprise Ireland ‘Innovation Voucher’ scheme. The research which is aimed at commercial use of the GrowGrid system will be carried out by Teagasc at their Kildalton facility.

The product is also being tested by several fresh produce growers around Ireland, with promising results so far. More at www.soweasygrow.ie ✽

Uk GARDEN CENTRE SALES ON THE UP THE GARDEN CENTRE ASSOCIATION’S (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) figures revealed Christmas sales were up by 12.57% in November and 5.95% in December compared to the previous year. Peter Burks, Chairman of the GCA, explained: “Sales of gifts during November were up 8.14% compared to the previous year and December gift sales were up 5.58% on 2012”.

“It’s encouraging to see more people preparing for Christmas by visiting garden centres in their areas instead of high streets to pick up essentials,” he added. November’s sales of clothing were up by 13.37% compared to the previous year. Outdoor plants also performed well during December with a 16.13% change. The best performing categories overall during 2013 were food hall/farm shop, which was up 8.05% and furniture and BBQs, which saw an increase of 6.46% due to improved weather. Overall sales at GCA garden centres in 2013 were up 3.3%.

✽

PICTURED BELOW: ITB HORTICULTURE LECTURERS MICK HAGAN, DR. CHRISTY BOYLAN & EAMON KEALY WITH PROFESSOR NIGEL DUNNETT AT ITB, NOV 2013

JOB NEWS NEW ROLES Aidan Campion Promotion - Commercial Manager at Bord na Mona

Joe Clancy

New - Landscape Architect at Pegasus Planning Group

Tara Maloney

New - Retail Manager at White Dove Nurseries

Nigel Dunnett Inspires Students

CURRENTLY HIRING:

NIGEL DUNNETT, Professor of Planting Design and Vegetation Technology and Director of The Green Roof Centre, University of Sheffield, visited ITB during his recent trip to Ireland. Nigel visited the construction site of the new teaching facility for horticulture. The modern design incorporates a rainwater harvesting system and a ‘green roof’ on each of the buildings in an attempt to minimise the impact on the new buildings on the environment. Professor Dunnett also gave an informal talk to the horticulture students and staff on the topic “Rainwater Meadows and Roof Gardens – an ecological approach to planting”. ✽

Noblewood - LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL Arboretum - VARIOUS POSITIONS Aurivo - GARDEN CENTRE SUPERVISOR Find more Jobs on JobsInHorticulture.ie

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

5

02 / GENERAL

FOUNDATIONS TO BUILD ON Mike Neary, Manager of Horticulture with Bord Bia, details the host of programmes, initiatives and activities you can use to build a stronger business in 2014

T

he horticulture sector remains in a challenging position. A confluence of economic, meteorological and consumer factors have combined to place enormous pressure upon horticultural business owners. This has manifested as significant shifts in all areas. We are still doing the same things, but we’re now doing them in different ways. Feedback from colleagues across the sector would suggest that everybody is working far harder too. Things are no different in Bord Bia. We are similarly challenged to work smarter and maximise the return on the resources available to us for the benefit of the horticulture industry. This includes making our budgets stretch beyond what was considered conceivable a couple of years ago.

6

Horticulture is a significant sector and is good for Ireland.

While there is no quick fix solution to current challenges we are often reminded that times like these can be an opportunity to review business practises, improve efficiencies and to seek out new opportunities. These opportunities might be online, outside of the country, working collaboratively or in related sectors. In Bord Bia we are determined to maximise the supports and measures that help you to grow your business as the economy turns.

On the consumer front, Bord Bia is wholly behind Bloom, Ireland’s largest gardening event, which takes place in the Phoenix Park Dublin over five days on the June Bank Holiday weekend. This major national event which attracted 110,000 visitors in 2013 provides a high profile promotional platform

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

02 / GENERAL for Irish horticultural businesses to exhibit, promote and market their products and services (e.g. plants, garden design, garden construction, etc). €5.5 million was spent by visitors at Bloom 2013 and an additional postevent €90 million spend was inspired by the media coverage generated. Bloom 2014 will take place from the 29th May to the 2nd June. On Friday 30th May there will be a Bloom TV special on RTE 1 supported by Bord Bia. We’re also the driving force behind the Super Garden TV series. This is a major 6 part TV gardening series, which is due back on our screens in April 2014. Up-andcoming designers who would like to participate in the show should contact Vision Independent Productions Ltd www.visionindependentproductions.com.

Garden Time, Bord Bia’s promotional activity for the amenity sector is carried out under the “Garden Time” banner and is focused on the spring and early summer period. The various

Bord Bia. It brings plant producers and buyers together at one event. The trade show takes place on the 24th July in the Citywest exhibition centre. We also play a key role in the National Plant Fairs. These fairs are held each spring to provide nurseries with an opportunity to meet key buyers at the start of the new gardening season, and to exhibit and market plants. Two fairs are planned for Punchestown Racecourse in Kildare on 25th February and 1st April. These fairs are organised by Garden Events Ltd for the Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association, supported by Bord Bia. When it comes to business development, we remain committed to supporting a whole range of activities and initiatives, including the Supplier Development Programme.

This programme provides training and mentoring to amenity sector producers on best business practises, new product development, and innovation and developing skills to maximise outcomes

seminars throughout the year. These include the David Robinson Memorial Lecture for students of horticulture, Young Horticulturalist of the Year, the Rare & Special Plant Fair, ALCI awards, the GLDA’s annual seminar, and the Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association Conference, The Garden Centre Association (including the International Garden Centre Association Congress that will be held in Ireland in 2014) and many more.

Bord Bia also undertakes to provide up to date market information to the amenity horticulture sector, which assists them in their planning and marketing activities. This includes information on general market trends to specific information on the garden market. We also provide assistance for those wishing to develop export opportunities through the facilitation of key contacts with buyers and via mentoring support.

Our range of Amenity Quality

“When it comes to business development, we remain committed to supporting a whole range of activities and intiatives” promotional activities direct consumers to the Bord Bia Garden Time website, which provides a range of information and detail on gardening including gardening events that will be happening around the country. Industry members can have the details of any events they are organising listed in the events diary.

A suite of promotional resources for the industry to use is available to download from the Bord Bia website www.bordbia.ie.

We continue to explore potential consumer-focused initiavites with both industry representatives and through consumer research, and look forward to developing new opportunities over the coming months.

On the trade front, Bord Bia continues to support GLAS. The Garden, Landscape & Amenity Showcase is the national trade show for the amenity horticultural sector, which is organised

by Kildare Growers and supported by

in existing and new market channels.

Nineteen businesses are currently participating in the programme.

In addition Bord Bia is currently supporting initiatives within the industry to look at new plant and cut foliage varieties.

The Market Assistance Programme provides grant support to qualifying companies to develop and improve their marketing capabilities. Application forms are currently available and the closing date is the end of February. The areas for which support is available are: ● trade fairs and exhibitions ● market research and product marketing development ● quality measures, development of marketing knowledge In 2013, thirty eight horticulture businesses were being assisted through this programme. Another key aspect of our activities is sponsorship of various events, conferences and

OPPOSITE: TROLLEY FAIRS REPRESENT AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWERS AND RETAILERS TO COMMUNICATE AND EXPLORE PRODUCT OFFERINGS WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT

Programmes continues to grow in strength and impact, and provides a cornerstone for building standards across the sector. Developed as business improvement schemes, businesses have benefited either by improving compliance with statutory requirements, and/or recognising where business processes can be changed to improve future performance. The Landscape Quality Programme is a voluntary quality assurance scheme designed to assist Irish landscape contracting businesses reach best practise in business standards and management.

It sets out a code of practice for the efficient running of a landscape contracting business and provides a standard against which each business is evaluated. The programme is tailored to the sizes and capabilities of Irish landscape businesses and is flexible enough to meet the needs of the smallest and largest participants.

Concentrating on the important areas, it identifies best practice, and helps managers to install it in the most cost effective and time efficient way.

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

7

02 / GENERAL

8

KORALEY NORTHEN ABOVE: DOING BUSINESS: PAUL DOWLING, MARTIN SCOTT AND BARRY EVANS AT A TROLLEY FAIR LAST YEAR

ABOVE: DANNY & THOMAS MCGONIGLE AND TOMMY CULLEN AT LAST YEAR’S GLAS SHOW. THE EVENT HAS GATHERED HUGE MOMENTUM AND QUICKLY BECOME THE KEY INDUSTRY EVENT OF THE TRADE CALENDAR

ABOVE: HORTICULTURAL EVENTS IN IRELAND ARE AS MUCH ABOUT THE SOCIAL ELEMENT AS THEY ARE ABOUT BUSINESS. THEY OFFER A GREAT CHANCE TO CATCH UP AND MEET FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FIGURES IN THE IRISH HORTICULTURAL COMMUNITY, AND RARELY CAUGHT ON CAMERA, IS KORALEY NORTHEN. CAPTURED AT BLOOM 2013

KORALEY NORTHEN

FURTHER DETAILS on Bord Bia’s programmes and supports are outlined on our website www.bordbia.ie or you may call or email us to discuss your needs on 01 6685155 or info@bordbia.ie

IN PICTURES

KORALEY NORTHEN

The Garden Centre Quality Awards have been instrumental in raising standards within garden centres throughout Ireland. Over the years, the aim of the awards has been to set achievable standards for the industry while simultaneously rewarding those centres that consistently strive for excellence.

Each participating garden centre undergoes a comprehensive audit conducted by an experienced independent consultant. The centre is assessed on a number of criteria including plant quality, customer service, merchandising, outdoor / indoor presentation, information, accessories and marketing amongst others, and the report highlights areas of excellence and those which can be improved. The report is also a valuable tool if utilised for business improvement and staff motivation. The facility achieves a star rating based on the audit score, which can be used to promote the business.

The Nursery Quality Scheme provides a quality assurance scheme for nursery producers which is being implemented to the internationally recognised standard EN45011. This programme assists the producers to establish, maintain and develop high quality standards. Nurseries who achieve certification may use the Bord Bia Certified Member logo to promote their business, as well as the Bord Bia Quality Mark on Irish grown product.

The long awaited green shoots are finally starting to show but the long climb to economic recovery has only commenced. In Bord Bia we are committed to promoting and supporting the sector at all levels. If you think you could benefit from our input, then get in contact today. ✽

ABOVE: KIERAN DUNNE OF L & K DUNNE NURSERIES AT BLOOM 2013. KIERAN, WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER GROWERS, DEMONSTRATED HOW THE EVENT CAN BE UTILISED BY THE INDUSTRY TO DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE THE DIVERSITY AND QUALITY OF IRISH GROWN PLANTS

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

/ EvENTS

EvENT NEWS ✽ Tully Nurseries to Launch Expanded

Plant Range at IHNSA Trolley Fair 2014

Building on the recent success of Hebe ‘Rhubarb & Custard,’ Tully Nurseries have extended their Bella Bloom and Winning Plants range for 2014. Over 20 of Irelands leading nurseries will be exhibiting at the fair taking place on the 25th of February. TrolleyFairs.com ●

Trolley Fair NI

●

This year the fair will have the added attraction of Neville Stein, who will be speaking at the event, which takes place on the 18th of February at the Greenmount College Campus.

✽ Rentes Spring Trolley Fair On the 18th and 19th of February, Rentes expect to host 200 buyers over two days for their annual plant fair. In addition to viewing the extensive plant range on show, you can look forward to networking opportunities over complimentary food and drinks. Rentes.ie ●

✽ New Venue for Garden Show Ireland Garden Show Ireland is moving to the magnificent setting of Antrim Castle Gardens. New dates for 2014 are the 9th-11th of May. The new venue has good transport connections and easy access for the expected 20,000 plus visitors. The 60 acres of parkland have been beautifully restored. Exhibitor information at GardenShowIreland.com

WAFA World Flower Show 2014

The countdown has started to the 11th World Flower Show.

Due to take place at the RDS, Dublin, it will run from the 18th to the 22nd of June 2014. Over 20,000 delegates are expected to attend. ●

IGCA International Congress

The 56th International Garden Centre Congress takes place from August 10th–15th 2014. Ireland has an added honour, as welcoming the visitors to Ireland for the event; will be Rachel Doyle of Arboretum, in her new official role as first ever Irish President of the IGCA.

National Tree Week

This year the theme is ‘The Sound of Trees’. It is being launched at Powerscourt Gardens on Sunday the 2nd of March and runs until the 8th. Over 15,000 trees will be distributed to the public. TreeCouncilofiIreland.ie

More at HortiTrends.ie/horticulturetradeshowevents ✽

Compost & Barks - Plant Food - Lawn Seed & Treatments Weed & Pest Control - Seeds - Bird Care Tel: 028 8772 7500

Fax: 028 8772 3800

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

9

00 / XXXXXXXXX

SALES MADE EASY Leading retail consultant Liam Kelly details how you can increase sales by incorporating seasonality into your plant merchandising with the help of the 5 Es

T ABOVE: BOLD CONTRASTS OF FOLIAGE AND DISPLAY STANDS WILL DRAW THE EYE.

10

he art of merchandising – and make no mistake, it is an art - has changed dramatically in the last couple of decades, and this is especially true for the plant sector.

There was a time when plants were not so much merchandised, as grouped by category and arranged in neat A-to-Z rows. This was probably a throwback to the days when wholesale nurseries and growers arranged their plants, and as some of these growers evolved into retailers they kept the same display format.

The plant buying public were a different breed back then too, savvier on a plant’s needs and requirements and more aware of the cycle of seasonality; of planting, growing and harvesting - or blooming. There was less of a need by the seller to educate and inform, and certainly not much requirement to inspire.

In short, there was less need - or at

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

least less perceived need - for many merchandising techniques within many plant retailing businesses.

But in the nineties and noughties garden centres started to change and embrace general retailing procedures as a requirement to drive their businesses to the next level, and one of the key areas by which they achieved this was by better merchandising. Gone were the concrete corrals for holding plants, to be replaced by soft-focused wooden display benches, tiered tables and proper POS signage. Plants were now up near eye-level with new snazzy labels developed by clever nurserymen and their marketing people. Coloured pots and multi-buys became de rigueur and still are today.

Sadly that’s where some plant retailers stopped. They failed to see or take the next step needed in order to sell even more plants, (not to mention the myriad of add-on lines that should be associated with said sales, which

03 / RETAIL OPPOSITE PAGE: POTS - NEW, FASHIONABLE COLOURS CAN EXCITE THE CUSTOMER RIGHT: GREMLINS – HUMOUR AND DRAMA CAN BE ENTERTAINING

are an important factor in driving the average spend upward by another few percent). They failed to think for the customer.

The seasonality of the gardening sector in our climate is both a blessing and a curse. How simple it would be to sell geraniums, petunias and other summer colour all year round and never have to worry about change, cold weather or torrential rain. However, we would be missing out on the very thing that makes gardening interesting and unique, the constant need for the seasons to cycle through rebirth, colour and warmth, through dormancy and even decay before starting again.

Surely that makes life in general and merchandising in our particular case more interesting and challenging?

Because of the knowledge requirement of this cycle, retailers need to think for, plan for, create for and inspire their customers while at the same time educating the newer generation, many of whom no longer know when daffodils flower let alone when to plant them. We are all guilty of making assumptions, and this is especially true of plant retailers. They assume that their customers know more than they actually do. More worryingly, there is an assumption that basic knowledge such as the aforementioned seasonality of the gardening world is a known concept and doesn’t need explaining in any way. And we know what they say about assumption.

It’s not all about knowledge of course, but seasonality and effective merchandising can work well together to retrain the customer in combination with the following five Es. If you can generate Excitement and Enthusiasm for the season to come while at the same time Educating and Entertaining the customer by Engaging them in your display, then you should achieve better plant sales at the same time as driving the sales of the general garden product sector.

LET’S LOOK AT THESE IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL… HOW DO WE EXCITE THE CUSTOMER? Words such as ‘new’, ‘unique’ or ‘exclusive’ when used in point-of-sale signage help to convey this message.

Of course the plants need to be actually new – or new to you - in order for this to work. This is rarely an issue these days as nurseries are constantly launching new varieties. For example, the coming season will have a number of new hydrangea, lavender or perennial varieties launched, which could be earmarked for an early summer promotion to highlight the long hot summer to come.

HOW DO WE GENERATE ENTHUSIASM? This is a very emotive sentiment so the words used in your signage should convey how passionate you are about a plant or theme. Do you love tomatoes?

Or maybe you fancy chilli peppers?

Why not tell your customers this and the reason why you do. Use hearts and appropriate colours – red in this case – to get the message across that this is the time for sowing these seeds if they too fancy these plants. Wouldn’t this work well for Valentines Day?

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO EDUCATE THE CONSUMER? Again signage is an obvious way to get a message across. ‘Plant Now for Spring Colour!’ for example, is a good way to highlight the autumn bulb season and sell the promise of blooms the following spring, but there are other ways too. Sticking with our bulb example, displaying basic add-on sales such as fertiliser and bulb planters will educate and increase the value of the sale, but you can take it a step further by using brightly coloured planters in your display to show that bulbs look great in pots, while the bright colours reinforce that promise of spring – or summer colour.

HOW CAN A DISPLAY BE ENTERTAINING? Dragging a little theatre and drama into a display with the use of appropriate props is an excellent way to entertain the customer. A show-stopping display of Christmas roses with frosted branches and berried stems is a great way of encouraging impulse sales at Christmas, reminding them of the arrival of Christmas as well as having a ‘wow’ factor if done with flair. Humour too can be entertaining, so it’s worthwhile keeping that in mind when you’re creating your signage and looking out for props.

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

11

03 / RETAIL CAMELLIA - STOCK, PROPS, LINK-SALES AND SIGNAGE NEED TO COME TOGETHER IN YOUR DISPLAY

“Words such as ‘new’, ‘unique’ or ‘exclusive’ when used in point-of-sale signage help to convey this message” HOW DO I ENGAGE THE CUSTOMER IN A DISPLAY? One of the best ways to engage the consumer is to appeal to their senses.

Smell and touch are perhaps the best to play on. For example, the scent of Lavender or Santolina backed up with a ‘Pinch Me!’ and ‘Smell Me!’ signs work well to highlight that the scents of summer are upon us. Using grasses, or fluffy-leaved, tactile plants such as Verbascum and Stachys with ‘Stroke Me!’ encourages customers to engage with the plants and the display. Sight too plays an important roll. Inflict the coming season on your customers by using appropriate colours and stock - yellow and green combined with flowering pots of daffs means it must be spring and time to start gardening again, weather permitting of course…

As you can see from these few examples, there are many ways to encourage customers to buy and it’s not enough just to put plants on a bench and hope they will sell. You need to work on displays and use the ‘Es’ as a checklist in order to drive sales.

12

Within those displays you can train the customer and reinforce the seasonality of gardening as well as selling the promise of whatever season is to come, by highlighting the benefits of that particular time of year.

Of course there’s more to it than just this. You need to plan ahead, get your props, signage and stock ready, and make sure your pricing and offers are right. Remember to measure and record

your results in order to improve on your sales the following year. Also, don’t forget your display must be sellable, easily restockable and be easy to maintain there’s a fine line between being creative and having a cluttered display.

Finally, make sure you’re ready to change quickly. In our climate spring can become summer in one afternoon so make sure you’re always prepared for the next season. ✽

LIAM KELLY is one of Ireland’s leading retail consultants. Having originally managed one of the country’s biggest garden centres, he established his own consultancy business Retail Services & Solutions in 2007. Since then he has provided invaluable support and guidance at every level of garden retail and counts some of Ireland’s most respected retailers as clients.

Liam can be contacted at Retail Services & Solutions, 118 Dolmen Gardens, Pollerton, Carlow. 086 822 1494 or 059 913 0176, lksolutions@eircom.net, www.lksolutions.blogspot.com

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

Specialist Perennial Growers Y Celebrating 25 years in business Y Hardy Nursery Stock Grower of the Year 2012 Y Perennial Grower of the Year 2011

Award Winning Wholesale Nursery Specialising in Perennials Alpines, Herbs and Grasses

Specialist Perennial Growers Joe & Nuala Young, Young Nurseries Ltd. Ballinanima, Kilfinane, Co. Limerick.

tel: 063 91035 | fax: 063 91500 email: info@youngnurseries.com www.youngnurseries.com

www.AquaflorFlowersDirect.ie

Quality Quality Service Service Selection Selection Value Value Always Always

Your Trusted Supplier for Valentines, Mothers Day & Easter Nationwide Professional Delivery from the Aquaflor Team Serving Florists Throughout Ireland Shop for Over 3000 Products Online or by Phone Top Quality Flowers Direct from Holland Weekly Specials on Truck & Online Wedding Flower Specialists Experts in Sourcing Unusual Flowers Indoor & Outdoor Plants plus Seasonal Promotions Next Day Delivery Service Competitive Pricing for Quality Flowers Irish Owned with Dutch Expertise Our Team & Routes Arjan van Veen (Ireland North & South) John Kelly (Dublin & East Coast) Feilim O’Raghallaigh (Dublin & East Coast) Marcel Koemans (West Coast)

M: 087-241 5091 M: 087-259 3167 M: 087-906 3596 M: 089-456 5527

Arjan@AquaflorFlowersDirect.ie John@AquaflorFlowersDirect.ie Feilim@AquaflorFlowersDirect.ie Marcel@AquaflorFlowersDirect.ie

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

13

04 / DESIGN

DESIGN LEGACY Gary Foran, Chairman of the Garden & Landscape Designers Association, records the historical evolution of Irish design and the pivotal role played by the association in raising it to international standards

P

rior to the formation of the Garden & Landscape Designers Association (GLDA) in the mid-1990s, garden design had gone largely unrecognised as an independent profession by the Irish public. This general lack of awareness was due in part to the limited number of professional designers operating at the time. Other factors undermining the evolution of Irish garden design included Irish perception and cultural association with land, nonexistence of any professional bodies to oversee and set standards and the complete lack of any formal training routes for those wishing to pursue a design career. For those wishing to train in design, the only option was to go abroad.

The few professionals operating at that time came to design via fine art, architecture and horticulture.

Compounding the poor professional environment were the unhelpful economic conditions. In the late 70s and 80s the government, and thus the population, was essentially broke.

A succession of poor decisions and neglect of indigenous industries produced an environment of higher taxation and a dramatic rise in unemployment. The result? The evaporation of discretionary spending and a stunting of Irish design evolution. Sound familiar?

Against this unfavorable background, a group of pioneering design professionals decided that action was needed to foster a climate in which Irish garden and landscape design could thrive. It was 1995. The GLDA was born.

14

The first meeting of the GLDA took place in Dublin, at the home of founder member Angela Jupe. Angela had an earnest desire to establish a society in Ireland on a par with the well-established Society of Garden Designers in the UK. An architect by profession, Angela subsequently trained under UK garden designer, John Brookes. It was Angela’s passion and perseverance which brought together the founding members in the summer of ‘95. Helping to plants the seeds for Ireland’s first garden and landscape designers association were: Gabrielle Sanio, Susan Maxwell, Louise Burns, Gerry Daly, Peter Stam, Angela Binchy, Andrew GlennCraigie, Sally Kelly, John Ketch, Maeve Kearns, Elizabeth

ABOVE: A GROUP PHOTOS OF SOME THE GLDA’S EARLIEST FULL MEMBERS. BACK ROW FROM LEFT, GABRIELLE SANIO, SUSAN MAXWELL, LOUISE BURNS, NEVILLE MOONEY, GERRY DALY, KORALEY NORTHEN(ADMINISTRATOR), PETER STAM, ANGELA BINCHY, ANDREW GLENN-CRAIGIE, LISA MURPHY AND SALLY KELLY

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

04 / DESIGN OPPOSITE PAGE: ELMA FENTON’S SILVER MEDAL WINNING GARDEN AT THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2005 BELOW: ELIZABETH MORGAN, ANDREW GLENN-CRAIGIE, PETER STAM AND KORALEY NORTHEN TAKE A WELL NEEDED BREAK AFTER WALKING MOST OF PARIS IN 1998

“A group of pioneering design professionals decided action was needed to foster a climate in which Irish garden and landscape design could thrive” Barrett-Morgan and Verney Naylor.

Having all met for the first time during that initial meeting, which was followed by two more meetings that year, a concensus was eventually reached on their shared aspirations.

Those aspirations are still enshrined in the Articles of the Association. One of the first decisions agreed upon was the necessity for an independent panel of judges to assess the standard of potential applicants. They also decided to hold workshops to assist applicants, to set about generating more public awareness of garden and landscape design and to encourage greater use of designers. The initial push was helped enormously by the generous publicity provided by Angela’s many garden journalism contacts at the time, including Gerry Daly, Dermot O’Neill, Jane Powers, Charlie Wilkins and Helen Rock. She also decided to seek the support of well known people interested in gardening. David Puttman, the wellregarded film director (who had recently moved to Ireland) agreed to formally launch the association, which of course meant they were assured of good newspaper coverage. Gradually, over the years since then, and through the determined efforts of these founding members, the GLDA’s membership, recognition, and influence, has grown steadily.

Around the time of the GLDA’s

establishment, garden festivals were just starting to gather pace in Ireland.

This newly formed association was invited to both participate in creating gardens, and also to judge works at these shows, all of which helped to establish the professional standing of garden designers in Ireland. In addition, government support and promotion was sought through An Bord Bia (formerly An Bord Glas), who have continued to be supportive of the GLDA. Even RTE came on board later by hosting a garden programme with strong design content.

Of the many activities organised by the association, trips and visits to gardens became pivotal from both a social and organisational perspective.

Koraley Northen (GLDA Administrator 1995-2007) recalls a visit in June 1997 to Ballinlough Castle in Co Meath, where Sir John & Lady Nugent served cakes and tea to 51 members and friends, all seated around an enormous table in the castle. In October 1998, eleven members went on a trip to France.

Koraley recalls how they splashed in the fountains at Parc Andre Citroen in Paris; were amused and confused by the quirky gardens in Chaumontsur-Loire, and marvelled at the style of French gardeners at Courson Plant Fair. More recently, a trip in September of 2011 saw a group of members visit London’s Olympic Park pre-Olympics,

for a specially arranged tour with officials around the newly planted and sown landscapes and gardens, not yet seen by the public. This same UK trip included a visit to Kew Gardens, Palmstead Nurseries, and Great Dixter House and Gardens.

One of the biggest success stories of the GLDA to date has been its hosting of an annual design seminar, which continues to be a well-respected and popular event, drawing in a diverse audience of industry academics, professionals and students alike. Early seminars saw high-profile designers such as James Van Sweden and Piet Oudolf offer inspirational garden design insights to those first eager audiences, who at the time, Koraley recalls, “were practically climbing in the windows and beating each other over the heads with trowels to get in”. Needless to say,

ABOVE: KORALEY NORTHEN DANCES IN A FOUNTAIN AT PARC ANDRE CITROEN, PARIS 1998

health and safety was given greater priority for subsequent events. Joking aside, the success of this first seminar affirmed the belief they had at the time in the public’s interest and demand for such an event, and this combined with an equally successful association launch in the same week, were both hugely significant in helping the GLDA get off to a flying start. This year’s seminar, on February 8th, promises to be no exception. The speaker lineup includes international design luminaries Tim Richardson and Jake Hobson and homegrown designers, Oliver Schurmann and Fergus McGarvey.

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

15

MCGRANE NURSERIES ARE m m m m m m m

A LEADING WHOLESALE SUPPLIER OF

BEDDING PLANTS POT PLANTS PLANTED CONTAINERS (ALL YEAR ROUND) FRUIT & VEG HERBS & SPRING BULBS SUMMER PERENNIALS BASKET PLANTS

NEW ON-LINE ORDERING SYSTEM Contact us on:

info@mcgranenurseries.co.uk 028 (048) 3884 0341 (ROI) www.mcgranenurseries.co.uk

Irelands largest Wholesale Nursery Supplying Trees & Shrubs to Ireland and Europe for 40 years Call us for a FREE personalised quotation SAP Nurseries, Garnavilla, Cahir, Co. Tipperary T: 052 7442222 F: 052 7442215 sales@sapgroup.com www.sapgroup.com

16

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

04 / DESIGN RIGHT: FORMER CHAIRMAN, DAVID SHORTALL EXCHANGES SOME BANTER WITH DR MATTHEW JEBB AT THE ANNUAL DESIGN SEMINAR IN 2012. THE ANNUAL EVENT IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF IRELAND’S DESIGN CALENDAR

“The GLDA’s annual design seminar is one of the horticultural highlights of the year” In addition to collective association activities, individual members are no strangers to the limelight. In 2005 Elma Fenton MGLDA became the first Full Member to exhibit at Chelsea in where she won gold for her show garden.

Since her first gold-medal winning show garden at Bloom in 2007, Jane McCorkell MGLDA has gone on to achieve 5 more up to 2013. Likewise Full Members, Tim Austen, Lisa McNight, Brian O’Hara, Deirdre Prince, Barry Lupton, Susan Maxwell, Hugh Ryan, Sheena Vernon, Colm Doyle, Sinead Finn, Patricia Tyrrell, Anne Hamilton and David Shortall have all picked up awards at Bloom in recent years. In addition, working with ALCI contractors our members have achieved joint awards, both for private garden design and build projects, and for larger scale commercial work around the country. Many of the members already mentioned have made television appearances on programmes such as RTE’s Super Garden and Nationwide, and have been interviewed on various national TV and radio channels. Our members are often invited to give talks or provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshops on aspects of the garden design profession, open to students, established designers and the public. Recent workshops organised by members have covered topics such as, planting design (Patricia Tyrrell MGLDA), contracts management (Colm Doyle MGLDA), and on social media/ marketing (Michael O’Reilly MGLDA).

Outside of the GLDA some members have immersed themselves (and their students) in design education. Since 2002, Barry Lupton MGLDA has been a tutor in design and horticulture at Senior College Dun Laoghaire. When it comes to

GLDA promotion at various trade shows/ exhibitions such as Bloom, Ideal Homes, Self Build etc, our members always rally round in the true spirit of volunteerism to man the stand, give talks, and engage with the public.

We now find ourselves in a troubled financial environment and once again the GLDA is upping its game.

The recent launch of our two new membership categories (Pre-Registered and Corporate), is testament to the progressive nature of our association. It shows the commitment of our members to supporting both individual student and practicing garden and landscape designers wishing to apply for Full Membership, as well as our valuable network material providers, nurseries, artisans, and related businesses across the landscape and horticultural sectors in Ireland. We look forward to working closely with both of these groups over the next year, and to fostering stronger ties with our industry partners and colleagues, for the mutual benefit of all.

Given the ongoing absence of regulation in the industry and the proliferation of operators offering design services, the role of the GLDA has never been so important. The association offers the general public an assurance that they are employing professional services, and the industry, an accreditation pathway.

Our membership prides itself on being open and inclusive, and since its establishment over 18 years ago, membership numbers have grown steadily across its Student, Friend and Full Membership categories. During this time natural bonds, mutual respect and friendships have been established between members, many of whom are self employed individuals.

As a Full Member and Chairman of the association, I appreciate first-hand the value of having a network of garden design colleagues to engage with and share ideas, expertise, experience and industry information. Added to that, the GLDA’s active social calendar, which includes a number of garden visits each year, its ongoing programme of in-house professional development workshops and other events, have all contributed greatly to the sense of ownership and responsibility members share for the continued welfare of their association.

Being an optimist, naturally I feel our association’s future is a bright one.

More opportunities now exist than ever before for individuals and companies to get involved, both in applying directly to become a Pre-Registered and/or Corporate Member, and also as active Friend members. In addition, given the full programme of events, workshops and of course the upcoming seminar all planned for next year and beyond, I’m confident we will continue to flourish. ✽

FOR MORE INFORMATION on GLDA events and membership visit www.glda.ie

GARY FORAN is an established designer with extensive experience of both private and commercial garden and landscape design. He enjoys taking a hands-on approach to his work, paying close attention to every detail from paper design right through to practical implementation. Gary’s practice is based in Dublin and his work takes him around the country and abroad. He has been a Full Member of the GLDA since 2005 and currently holds the position of association Chairman.

He can be contacted at 086 350 8845, gwforan@gmail.com or via www.garywforan.ie

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

17

05 / NURSERY

BARRY LUPTON INTERvIEWS PHILIP MOREAU

BACk TO THE FUTURE

Barry Lupton revisits an interview with Philip Moreau carried out in 2007 to pin down how things have really changed

I

t was 2007 when I first had the opportunity to interview Philip Moreau. Ireland was in the height of madness, and only the canny and the cute were making provision for what we now recognise as the inevitable. At 61, Philip has seen it all before. A highly respected grower and businessman, he has built a deserved reputation for not mincing his words and tireless campaigning for the sector.

It was with great pleasure that I had the opportunity to revisit that interview and to find out exactly what’s happening with Ireland’s growers in 2014.

B: You commented in 2007 that one of the most significant changes to occur in the nursery sector in the last 30 years was the shift in emphasis from production to marketing, and the necessity to focus on the science of selling, not growing. Do you think the sector has responded appropriately to this shift in emphasis?

P. Since that time the tide has come in and gone out, but the emphasis remains the same. Nursery owners can’t expect anything to sell simply because it was grown. They need to focus on marketing their products more than ever, packaging them with the right labelling and presentation.

In reality, most nurseries are struggling to make ends meet, and are not adapting to change. Take retail stocking for example. In days gone by, centres would be fully stocked over the winter period. What wasn’t sold in autumn would be carried over and sold in the spring. That just doesn’t happen anymore. Centres clear out their holding in autumn and focus on other areas like

18

coffee and Christmas. And who could blame them? This is has left a big gap in the nursery calendar. The smarter production people are doing likewise.

They’re either using the quiet period for holidays or preparation, or they’re exploring other opportunities to make money.

B. Following from the last question, how do you feel the sector should adapt to the threats and opportunities presented by the internet?

P. I’m a granddad at this stuff!

Previously I was sceptical about the internet and how the touchy feely aspects of plant purchase could be catered for. But when you look at the figures – £56 billion spent online in the UK last year – and note the big UK chains making heavy investments on ideas such as ‘Click and Collect’ - you know it’s time to take notice. Recently, Waitrose teamed up with Crocus and they’ve signed Alan Titchmarsh to front their offering. We may think plants are immune to the internet. They are not.

People are getting lazy in many ways.

It’s easy to buy online from the comfort of your home. It’s easier to sell online with pictures of a plant at different stages of growth. You can emphasise the positive points, provide extra information, accessories, associated products and plants, and it doesn’t matter what country you’re in, or where the plants come from. Compare that to trying to sell a bundle of sticks in the off-season at the local garden centre.

The writing is on the wall.

B. Okay, but what is Glenbrook doing to ensure it’s keeping up with the change?

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

P. Suffering like all the other nurseries.

We’re working on several fronts. We’re developing a new niche range for the Irish market. We’re refocusing on the Irish market as transport costs to the UK are making it less attractive.

In terms of the internet, we’re doing what we do best, which is to grow plants. But we’re finding partners and resellers who are more knowledgeable and better placed to do what they do best, which is to sell.

B. At a conference in 2007 you stated that the nursery sector had 20 years left at best. Do you stand over this?

P. I said that in 2007. In the 60s and 70s there were a handful of nursery operation; McLysaghts, Rentes, Costins, Mount Congreve, Eamonn O’Carroll and a few others. Looking back, we were in recession then too, and I often think about that time and wonder what was different. They were small businesses, run by people with primary production skills, family run businesses, more akin to the operations you see in southern Holland. The Celtic Tiger confused the sector, many tried to expand and many more bought vans and called themselves landscapers too. There were many lessons learned the hard way.

There will be a nursery sector in the future, but I think it will look more like it did back in the 70s. There will be smaller, more adaptable businesses with general offerings.

B. Poor cooperation still remains a fundamental stumbling block to delivering a coherent strategy for Irish horticulture; back in 2007, you said, ‘There is very little communication between

05 / NURSERY the different sectors of the industry and it’s no surprise that people pick up the phone and dial Holland first’. Should we just accept we don’t communicate and come up with other ideas, or do you think there’s a mechanism that will help us address this perennial problem?

P. No change there. The perception

B. One of the other significant problems you identified at the time was the lack of focused business thinking. “Most are hobbyists and part-timers who do what they do because they enjoy being around plants.” Has the sector moved on?

P. Yes, It has moved on. If the last few years have thought us anything, it’s that this is not an easy sector to make money in. Many people had their wings clipped, but I think we’re operating in a more sensible environment. Most growers have their feet firmly on the ground and this is reflected in better business practices.

B. You previously mentioned the element of greed as something which undermines the sector.

Can you expand on this and explain how it manifests in sector practice?

P. The bubble perpetuated greed and begrudgery. Many people were out to make a killing; nowadays they’re simply trying to make a living, to make ends meet. Our crash landing back to earth has made us all think and act differently.

B. Bloom is possibly the most significant positive initiative to be introduced since my last

KORALEY NORTHEN

that’s it’s still easier to call Holland is still the dominant one. In my opinion there is absolutely no point in sitting around tables. The only way the industry will be united is via a commercial operator.

We need a private entrepreneur to identify how a profit can be made from pulling things together, and they will have to find a way to entice growers to participate. From the grower end, we need to recognise that there is more to be had from sacrificing a small percentage of the margin for the bigger picture.

“The bubble perpetuated greed and begrudgery. Many people were out to make a killing; nowadays they’re simply trying to make a living, to make ends meet” interview with you. How could the industry better exploit the opportunities it affords?

P. I very much believe in advertising and I am greatly saddened that the sector has not joined forces to utilise the amazing opportunity of Bloom to promote what Irish growers do. We tried it in year one, then everyone wanted to do their own thing the following year. They all saw it as an opportunity to sell plants, but the figures don’t stack up. They missed the point. We should have one industry tent focused on promotion, not selling.

It’s not about getting a few quid selling to the public; it’s about promotion, a bigger picture, getting what we do under the noses of the punters. With a

little joined up thinking with retailers, we can all be winners. But everyone says they are too busy that weekend.

Nonsense.

B. Many other countries have flexible labour and wage regulations that respond to seasonal sectors such as ours.

I know the subject has always been a topic of interest for you. Has anything changed on the employment landscape to provide hope?

P. Nothing has changed, absolutely nothing.

B. Following from the last question; what changes would you make in this area to facilitate the sector?

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

19

05 / NURSERY P. At the very least, we should be looking at a minimum wage and the introduction of a sliding scale. Such a scale would encourage younger workers to engage in seasonal work, which also corresponds with holidays. The scale would also recognise and take account of skill levels. If they can do it elsewhere in Europe why can’t we?

B. Leaving aside the banking debacle, what do you feel have been the most significant changes to impact the industry over the last six years?

P. The Department of Agriculture’s handling of compensation for the impact of weather was a disgrace. We were left to hang, loosing half a million euro of stock in two weeks. We got nothing.

The grant system has no mechanism for recognising the capital shortfall in business. How could a business utilise a partial grant when they can hardly meet the weekly wage bill? Ridiculous.

On a more positive note, the potential introduction of green zones by Europe for local councils, which require trees and shrubs rather than the usual lawn, may have a good impact on the industry in the coming years.

Leaving aside money and the EU, the most significant impact has been the weather. A succession of wet summers, two freezing winters and a very bad spring brought us to our knees. Summer 2013 was great, too great. Nobody gardened, and they all went to the beach. We need a little bit of sun, enough cloud to keep people off the beach and some rain at night.

B. “Of all of the issues facing the industry, it is the ageing profile that is the most worrying.”

Bearing this comment in mind, what do you think the hundreds of horticulture students are doing after graduation each year?

P. I have no idea where they are going or what they are doing. I’ve had no contact from colleges at all. I placed a recruitment ad last year and had great trouble filling the post.

B. The last six years were perhaps the toughest the industry has experienced, but there is some talk of the tide

20

turning. What’s your sense of the current market?

P. Well, things can’t get much worse.

The next two years are sure to tell an interesting story. I think landscape is dead for now, but possible EU directives may shake things up. In fairness, I do think things have turned, a little, but there is still room for further contraction and rationalisation. That said, there is certainly scope for import substitution and that’s where the smart money is going.

B. Glas Ireland was introduced to fill the vacuum left by the Kildare Growers Trade Show. It would appear to be gaining a solid foot hold. How would you like to see it develop?

P. Glas is a good show at the wrong time of year. I said it before and I’ll say it again, it needs to be held in either February/March or September. I do not think it is as well attended as the Goff days, and in particular, the retail sector is poorly represented. They have had a tough time over the last few years but they should increase their involvement.

As it stands, Glas Ireland is a social event, not a business one. To my knowledge there is very little business done there.

B. What advice would you give to someone wishing to pursue a career in the sector?

P. Cop on to themselves!

But seriously, it is a good business to be in, in many ways. It’s a family business rather than a financial, commercial one. The friends and colleagues I had forty years ago are still the same ones I have today. That says a lot about the sector.

The most significant things for newcomers to be aware of include the level of investment required. In days gone by most nurseries started with a small plot of land and a polytunnel, but those days are long gone. You need a good level of starting capital, but once you have it you can take advantage of available grants, which effectively translate into a 40% reduction in investment costs. Another significant thing to acknowledge is competition.

You simply cannot compete with the industrial, mechanised operations so

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

you better have a niche to exploit.

I would encourage people into the sector, but I’d caution them to have their eyes wide open.

B. If you could wave of a wand and change anything about the sector, what would it be?

P. It’ very simple. Two things. Firstly, there would be an independent trading company that pulls everything together in one place. Secondly, the education programme for horticulture would be linked right through to industry and the advisory services. This is achieved very successfully in places like the US; there’s no reason why we can’t have it too. I said the same thing to Minister Coveney recently.

B. In 2007 you said you’d retire within the decade. Surely not?

P. Absolutely not. Provided nothing breaks or falls off, I’d like to think I’ll still be working at 75. I’d also like to think I’ll be bolder, more brazen and a lot crankier. ✽

IN A NUTSHELL

NAME: Philip Moreau AGE: 61 BUSINESS: Glenbrook Nurseries EDUCATION: The Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.

WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE? 1972 WHEN DID YOU SET UP YOUR FIRST NURSERY? 1990 WHY SETTLE IN COUNTY CLARE? I came down in 1977 to work for McLysaghts ad never left.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT TURNOVER? Approximately one million euro WHAT IS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Receiving the Robert Garner award from the IPPS last year for my contribution to horticulture.

WHAT NEXT? I’m in the middle of doing a Master’s dissertation through the RHS on the suitability of water sources for irrigation.

Annaveigh Plants An Bord Bia Grower of the Year 2013 & Tree Grower of the Year 2013 2013

Contact us on 052-7462872

www.annaveigh.com trevor@annaveigh.com john@annaveigh.com kristine@annaveigh.com grainne@annaveigh.com

05 / NURSERY

Respected Nursery-man and industry commentator, Pat FitzGerald, sets out a 10 point strategy for protecting the future of commercial horticulture in Ireland

W

hen the Editor asked me to contribute to the first issue of Horticulture Connected, my initial reaction was NO! There’s nothing left to say, it’s all been said before. Memories of meetings held 20 years ago came back, and I thought, what’s the point in repeating the same old stuff? Surely my energy is better spent on developing my own business. My first reaction – although shaped through my personal experience over the years – is also symptomatic of one of the fundamental issues which undermine our sector and set it apart from related and more well attended business sectors. Agriculture springs to mind.

Perhaps against my better judgement, and in the interests of stimulating action rather than comment, I relented to editorial pressure. Below is a list of ten points which I feel should form the cornerstone for an Irish horticulture strategy. Given my area of expertise I have focused more on nursery production.

1. DONT REINvENT THE WHEEL The first action to be undertaken should be a comprehensive and industrywide review of the original Bord Glas Report produced in 1990. This report was extensive and in my opinion well thought out at its time. Much of it is

22

still relevant in broad terms today.

Re-examining the report will help to highlight a number of things. Much of what we should be doing has already been thought out, but not implemented; that many industry people invested heavily in the document and were never acknowledged, and the lack of implementation seriously undermined motivation for future participation.

Collaboration between businesses was seriously undermined in the past and this needs addressing.

2. GET OUR FACTS STRAIGHT To my knowledge, there is no hard data on the value of Irish horticulture.

The same old farm gate estimates are trotted out each year and this is seriously undermining the whole sector.

We need a comprehensive assessment of the true value of the industry, encompassing actual sales, services, tourism, parks, gardens, attractions and all the indirect financial, social and health benefits derived from horticultural activity. Until this is completed, no policy maker or decision maker can be expected to look positively on the sector. To give you some insight on the poor data collation, I contacted the CEO of Tourism Ireland who was able to provide me clear, unambiguous figures. It’s starting to

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

look like these figures are not being used for industry promotion.

3. COMMUNICATE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER The sector needs to work with organisations such as the IFA, Agri Aware and Bord Bia to develop a continual conversation with the consumer and public. We need to look at how best each of the sub-sectors can develop a unified or at least similar strategy, to deliver this objective. This needs an annual funding mechanism on a continuous basis. To this end I suggest the industry and the state agencies could benefit by linking up with the HTA in projects in the UK.

4. GROWING WITHOUT BORDERS We need to start working as an island economy, promoting cross border activities. We also need to foster a more collaborative relationship with the UK. And while there are obvious plusses and minuses to such collaboration, I suggest that overall the benefits in utilisation of various resources - if thought about in the full context of the EU - would be positive in the direction of the Irish industry.

5. A MODEL SERvICE As far back as the late 90s, it was clear

PHOTOGRAPH BY ADAM L

SINGULAR vISION

05 / NURSERY that Ireland was taking the focus off horticultural research and development.

Services were getting harder and harder to sustain due to reduced budgets and staffing levels. At this time the Australian horticulture industry was undergoing similar challenges.

But unlike ourselves, they developed a workable model for commercial support. To cope with the challenges they created Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL), which is made up of industry and state services. Although the IHNSA and I had both suggested a similar idea in 1996, we could still benefit greatly from exploring their model to see how activities could be applied in Ireland.

Where possible, in conjunction with our UK counterparts. You can read more about HAL here; http://www.horticulture.com.au

6. LESSONS LEARNED Horticultural education is a divisive subject which always provokes lively debate and little if no action. Over the years I’ve heard numerous growers and garden centres complain about the current state of horticulture training and how it isn’t serving their needs. Although I don’t see myself as an expert in the area, I do recognise the important role that education must play in securing the future of the industry. I think we need to undertake a review of the various courses and content, with a view to finding an overall strategy with key aims: 1. Ensuring the students’ needs are served; and 2. That the graduates produced are capable of leading the sector into the future. I do not believe the current system is producing graduates capable of leading us forward.

From my own perspective, I know that opportunities in plant sciences are being lost right now.

New crop and bio extract opportunities with benefit to our food industry, pharma industry and cosmetics industry - which exist already in Ireland - are not being harnessed due to a narrow perceptions of what horticulture is.

7. MOvING BEYOND BOOM AND BUST The most fundamental issue threatening Irish horticulture is the lack of research

and development. Healthy industries have healthy R & D programmes that identify opportunities, new directions and new possibilities. This simply does not happen in Ireland. Without such programs the sector is doomed to the fickleness of economic cycles. If the sector has any chance of a solid future, we need to have a strong emphaisis on R & D which draws together the various strands and stakeholders under one coherent strategy.

8. DEFINING ROLES Horticulture can be divided into two primary areas: production and construction. The former embodies everything to do with growth and cultivation; the latter everything relating to design and construction. In my opinion they have become too muddled over the last 20 years. One of the results of this is a dilution of complex skills. We’ve moved from being experts in specifics to generalists. This is hurting the sector. We need to develop unashamed centres of excellence with clearly identifiable pathways from introduction to high level training and output. This in turn will to clarify career strategies, goals and outcomes.

9. IT’S ALL IN THE BREEDING I am separately highlighting plant breeding as I have strong feelings on how far we have fallen, and how much opportunity there is in this area of horticulture. The big GM debate grabs all the headlines and genetic modification of plants will possibly become a necessity sooner than it should ever be, simply due to the lack of constant attention and support for simple plant breeding training for every horticulture student. I have no hesitation in stating that in my opinion a horticulture course involving the training of students in the cultivation of any plants that does not give the student opportunity to train, practice and learn about the basics of plant breeding cannot be a real horticulture course. It was once the case that first year students of a horticulture course were introduced in a practical way to plant breeding principles and shown in practice what’s involved. That many of us did not continue was not the fault of the course tutors. I suggest that

without any delay or fuss, plant breeding be brought on to all production course practical and technical training.

10. REPRESENTATION Like many others in the horticulture industry I am and have been for years guilty of not contributing to ensuring there is a steady industry representative organisation. I was personally very involved in IHNSA from 1990 to 1998 and spent far too much time, to the point of burn out on some good causes and some waste of time causes. Three big issues were resolved during that period, which were good use of time: stock valuation and the lowering of the VAT on plants. This benefited those nurseries who wished to register for VAT and was an important achievement delivered to us without any serious debate or acrimony by Minister Hugh Coveney (RIP), father of our current Minister for Agriculture. Without that concession plants would now be unfairly charged at a whopping 23% VAT. The point of this is that government does listen to practical reasoned lobbying from industry. Despite times being tough and finding time even tougher, we must reinvigorate and support the IFA and the IHNSA more than we are doing at present.

There are other things I could add to this list but much of it has been said before. I truly hope we can work together and use vehicles such as this to stimulate action. There is so much opportunity for Irish horticulture. We just have to take it. ✽

PAT FITZGERALD is one of Ireland’s leading nurserymen and plant breeders.

Having established FitzGerald Nurseries in 1990 on the family farm he has gone on to develop Ireland’s most sophisticated and forward looking plant breeding business. He is the recipient of numerous international awards and is a tireless industry representative and commentator.

For more information visit www.fitzgerald-nurseries.com

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

23

05 / NURSERY

Exportential Neville Stein summarises an extensive research report produced in 2013 to identify opportunities for Irish plant producers in the UK

Garden plants are still predominantly bought from garden centres of which there are estimated to be somewhere between 2,400 to 2,500 specialist garden retail outlets.

Of these, many are still single site privately owned establishments. Despite some recent merger and acquisition activity in the garden retail sector it still remains a very fragmented market, characterised by individual owner operated centres.

The predominate DIY retailers of garden plants in the UK are B & Q with 357 stores and Homebase with 342 stores.

Recently, 3 non DIY multiple retailers have entered the UK garden retail market. Next at Home currently operate 3 stores but have ambitions to establish 20 stores throughout the UK, and the supermarket chain Waitrose is selling gardening products from permanent sheds built in walkways outside 41 of its 290 supermarkets. The supermarket chain Morrisons has opened 102 small outdoor garden centres. Another emergent threat posed by multiple retailers is the effectiveness of their online offers, particularly in non-gardening products, providing significant competition to the independent garden centre market.

Uk PLANT SALES 2013 The market for garden plants this year has been very dynamic and consequently much has been reported on both Hort Week and Garden Forum’s websites. Information on these sites give an interesting picture. In March, when the gardening year starts garden centres on average were -32% down on the

24

previous year, + 8% in April, +15% in May, +19% in June, +15% in July, +7.7% in August.

Garden centres sales were up 1% in September, and this performance appears to be better than the UK high street.

Figures released in BDO’s monthly High Street Sales Tracker show overall like-for-like high street sales in September were up 0.6%.

CURRENT TRENDS Due to the irregular weather patterns many garden retailers have sought to ‘weather proof’ their business by reducing the reliance on the plant category. Consequently many garden retailers have improved their catering offer, added new product categories (ambient food, clothing etc) and established in-store concessions. Likewise many garden retailers are seeking new ways to grow sales outside the footprint of their store by establishing an online presence and offering new services to their customers such as garden maintenance etc.

The plant category at many garden centres is retaining or increasing slightly in annual total sales value but the category as a percentage of total garden centre sales is declining as many more garden retailers are seeing an overall increase in sales coming from new categories introduced.

The HTA, which provides excellent market intelligence has suggested that pensioners in particular remain relatively insulated from the impacts of an economic downturn, and one can rightly assume that when a sustained economic recovery occurs they will still remain an important customer segment for garden centres.

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

PHOTO BY: STEPHEN DAVIES

THE Uk GARDEN MARkET

05 / NURSERY

“Research from The HTA states that UK consumers spend approximately £5 billion annually on plants and garden products, of this approximately £1.4 billion is spent annually on garden plants” KEY IMPLICATIONS FOR GARDEN RETAILERS IN THE FUTURE ● Younger consumers still do not

appear to be visiting garden centres – what then can garden centres do to attract this potentially large group without alienating the traditional core customer base? ● The market in the short term is relatively insulated from the impact of the economy – older affluent consumers make up a large percentage of the market for garden retailers. However as retirement age in the UK is extended and pension incomes are reduced one might question whether in the very long term this group will still be as important for garden centres; ● An increasing growth in online

sales represents a threat to garden retailers; ● Increasing activity from supermarkets in the garden retail market represents a threat to garden retailers; and ● Consumer trends for ‘authenticity’ and ‘grow your own’ represent an opportunity for garden retailers.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR IRISH RETAILERS Many UK garden centre operators have realised that customers want to be entertained and have grown sales through events – could this be a opportunity in Ireland? ● If the population is ageing in Ireland then garden centre operators would need to consider how to replace older customers with younger customer groups; ● As yet there does not appear to

be a major E-tailer offering plants in ROI. This therefore presents an opportunity for garden centre operators;

● The growing interest in supermarket

chains such as Aldi, Lidl and Tesco offering spot plant promotions also represents a competitive threat for independent garden centre operators who should promote their expertise and knowledge as a point of difference from the mass market retailers; ● Consumers will use technology to price check big ticket items in garden centres. The smart retailers in the UK are making it hard for consumers to price check by removing manufactures labels; and replacing with their own bespoke labels and; ● Despite tough economic conditions

those retailers in the UK which have been proactive by increasing their marketing spend have managed to grow sales.

Therefore perhaps the same may apply to ROI retailers – improve effectiveness of the marketing function and sales should increase.

PLANT CATEGORIES EXPERIENCING GROWTH Of those retailers surveyed, the best performing plant categories appear to be the seasonal plant category (typically bedding plants and basket / tub plants). Within this category the product lines that are experiencing strong sales (and modest growth) are: ● 6 pack bedding ● 9cm and 13cm hanging basket / tub plants ● Pot bedding ● Herbs In the hardy plant category growth is still being achieved with roses, particularly the celebration / occasion named roses.

Likewise there is still good growth happening in the herbaceous perennial category with the best product line in this category being Heucheras.

PLANT CATEGORIES IN DECLINE All those surveyed clearly report that annual sales of ornamental trees and conifers are static or in decline.

This is no surprise with ornamental trees; gardens are getting smaller and during the economic downturn ‘big ticket’ items have seen a drop in sales. The ericaceous category, notably Rhodendrons and Azaleas, appear to be experiencing a decline.

This could be due to the poor weather in 2012 and 2013 at the key selling period for this category, or because of a lack of innovation by those nurseries supplying this category into the market. In addition to the above categories many retailers are also reporting that sales of hardy exotic shrubs such as Phormiums and Cordylines have, in the words of one significant plant retailer, ‘fallen through the floor’.

Likewise grasses and bamboos seem to be experiencing a decline in sales.

KEY FACTORS IN MAXIMISING UK OPPORTUNITIES ● Selling plants that are garden

worthy; ● Selling plants that are fresh,

vibrant, colourful or new; ● Providing excellent point of sale; ● Providing added value products

(enhanced packaging etc); ● Ensuring that the supply chain

works efficiently so that plants are available at the correct time; ● Ensuring that there is cooperation amongst all members of the supply chain – breeder, grower and retailer; and ● Researching the market –

producing what the market wants.

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

25

05 / NURSERY

KEY TRANSPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR IRISH GROWERS ● Selling stock to customers

THE OPPORTUNITIES Clearly the opportunities are in the seasonal plant category: ● Repackaging certain hardy plants as seasonal and disposable; ● Premium herbaceous perennials; ● New plants within the shrub category; and ● New celebration type roses.

In essence there is still a huge opportunity to sell very fresh looking impulse plants – colour sells! Point of sale and promotional activity are key in capitalising on new opportunities.

LIMITING FACTORS The most significant limiting factor restricting the ability of ROI nurseries to capitalise on the UK market is the cost and speed of transport to the UK. ROI nurseries have various options regarding transporting plants to the UK garden centre market and they are:-

“The most significant limiting factor restricting the ability of ROI nurseries to capitalise on the UK market is the cost and speed of transport to the UK” 26

A. Use own transport. Whilst this may give a producer ultimate control over the whole despatch and delivery process, operating a fleet of vehicles can be very expensive. After all, vehicles are only making money for a company when their wheels are turning. Several UK nurseries, notably John Woods and Bransford Webbs, have outsourced their entire delivery functions.

B. Use a general haulier to deliver direct or to a hub. There are many general hauliers making the trip across the water but it is wise to use one that has experience of handling live, perishable products; or C. Use own transport to deliver to a hub in the UK – this could be of interest to those nurseries that have their own transport but need to make small multiple drops to UK customers. ✽

a long time in advance of it being required – ideal if one is producing plant promotions – so that deliveries times can be planned well in advance; ● Establishing a group of customers that can take volume orders. It is very difficult to service customers if they only require one trolley a week, for every week of the season; ● Growing plants that maximise the space on a trolley. Ensuring that plants are short, bushy and compact wherever possible will enable more shelves to be loaded onto a trolley; ● Growing plants in the right pot size. For example can the plant still look attractive and good value in a 1.5lt pot instead of a 2lt pot? Clearly the smaller the pot size, the more plants that can be loaded onto a trolley.

The full text of this report is available from Bord Bia upon application. www.bordbia.ie

ABOUT NEVILLE STEIN Ovation Business Consultants was established in 1995 by Neville Stein and his wife Caroline.

The company provides consultancy and training services to nurseries, garden centres and landscapers across a wide and varied geographical area, including Scotland, Ireland, Poland, New Zealand and China.

Tel: +44 7778 005105 Twitter: @OvationNeville Web: www.ovationbusiness.co.uk

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

www.SowEasyGrow.ie

Making Gardening Easier

GrowGrid As Easy As

3 Feed & Water 1 Peg the Mat 2 Plant a Seed or Plug RESULT: Fresh Healthy ORGANIC Vegetables Commercial Fresh Produce Grower? Contact us for bespoke sizes of GrowGridPRO SowEasyGrow announces the addition of the Grumpy Gardener Range of Innovative gardening products to their portfolio.

Wheelbarrow Booster

Little Gripper

Contact Eoin on: +353 87 237 5983 or Eoin@SowEasyGrow.ie

T +353 7491 56036 E info@lcpackaging.ie

AGRI SUPPLIERS OF ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

Paper Bags Woven Polypropylene Bags Films & Plastics Netting Tonne Bags Jute Ground Cover

www.lcpackaging.com

SUPPORTING YOUR PRODUCTS

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

27

IN PICTURES

AWARD WINNING LANDSCAPES 2013

T

he ALCI Landscape Awards occur annually and were fi rst introduced in 1983 to encourage and foster higher standards of construction and design in landscaping.They acknowledge the work of ALCI members across Ireland, North and South, who demonstrate exceptionally high standards of professionalism and skill in the execution of a wide variety of landscape projects.

The awards are judged by an independent panel in both ALCI Northern and Southern regions, with a combined

ABOVE: JOINT WINNER OF THE PRIVATE GARDENS UNDER €5,000 CATEGORY: DESIGNED BY EDWARD CULLEN AND CONSTRUCTED BY AMAZON LANDSCAPING AND GARDEN DESIGN

panel deciding on an overall, all-Ireland winner of the much coveted Bog Oak Trophy. The judges for the Southern region in 2013 were Gary Graham (Bloom Manager, DME Amenity Horticulture Board Bia) and Dr Christy Boylan (Landscape Consultant and Vice President of IFPRA). Judging takes place in August each year and the judges travel the country to inspect each entry. The 2013 ALCI Awards had over 80 entries in 10 categories. The winner of the overall, all-Ireland award was Annett Landscaping Ltd of Warrenpoint, Co Down for a private garden in Co Down. ✽

ABOVE: WINNER OF THE RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND MAINTENANCE CATEGORY WAS SAP LANDSCAPES FOR THEIR WORK AT THE BACKWESTON CAMPUS

Left: Joint winner of the private gardens under €5,000.

Designed by Emer Moloney and constructed by Gardens Now ABOVE: WINNER OF THE PRIVATE GARDEN OVER €30,000 CATEGORY: DESIGNED BY MARK MOHAN AND CONSTRUCTED BY SILVERSTREAM LANDSCAPES

28

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

ABOVE: JOINT WINNER OF THE PRIVATE GARDENS UNDER €5,000 CATEGORY: DESI EMER MOLONEY AND CONSTRUCTED BY GARDENS NOW

IGNED BY

IN PICTURES

ABOVE: WINNER OF THE PRIVATE GARDEN BETWEEN €10,000 - €30,000 CATEGORY. DESIGNED BY ROSS FARRELL AND CONSTRUCTED BY GREENSTONE LANDSCAPES

ABOVE: WINNER OF THE SPORTSGROUND CONSTRUCTION CATEGORY: DESIGNED

BY KEALY AND SUTTLE, TURFGRASS CONSULTANTS AND CONSTRUCTED BY PETER O’BRIEN & SONS

ABOVE TOP: ANOTHER SHOT OF ANNETT LANDSCAPING’S BOG OAK TROPHY WINNING GARDEN.

ABOVE: WINNER OF THE PRIVATE GARDEN BETWEEN €5,000 - €10,000 CATEGORY. DESIGNED BY RONAN O’CONGHAILE AND CONSTRUCTED BY ARDCARNE GARDEN CENTRE

ABOVE: WINNER OF THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY: PETER O’BRIEN & SONS

ABOVE: WINNER OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY CATEGORY: DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY CREATIVE PLAY SOLUTIONS

ABOVE BELOW: OVERALL WINNER OF THE COVETED BOG OAK TROPHY 2013: DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY MARK ANNETT OF ANNETT LANDSCAPING LTD (NORTHERN IRELAND)

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

29

06 / CONSTRUCT

FROM SPECULATION TO RE-EvALUATION Landscape quantity specialist, Colm Kenny explains how contractors can improve profits with smarter pricing

T

here is little doubt that the past 18 months have been among the toughest for Ireland’s landscape contractors since the banking crisis sent the economy into freefall in 2008. Demand for landscape services fell away as the economy stuttered to a halt. The wider Irish construction sector was left littered with abandoned building sites, and large infrastructure projects quickly became a thing of the past. Industry rates came under relentless pressure as contractors chased an ever-dwindling amount of work. Furthermore, landscape contractors who had predominantly engaged in construction activities attempted to stabilise their businesses by tendering for contracts in the maintenance sector. As a result, rates decreased across the entire industry.

CURRENT MARkET STATISTICS The landscape industry has always been viewed as a poorer relation of the construction industry. Having little information and statistics available on the value of the landscape contracting industry, the only way we can gauge the level of activity in the market is to look to our construction industry cousins.

The Central Statistics Office’s latest report of Production in Building and Construction Index is the first point of call when attempting to measure activities. This report, published in August, recorded a 16.6% increase in civil engineering activity and 6.9% increase in non-residential building.

The volume of output in building and construction was recorded as being

30

1.9% higher in the third quarter of 2013 when compared with the preceding period. While there was a decrease of 7.4% in the volume of residential building, the change in the value of production for all projects was up 3.6%.

Ross Carew, Executive Secretary of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland, commented that “the mood of a wide range of our members across the country is one of cautious optimism with numerous members experiencing a rise in the number of enquiries

“The landscape industry has always been viewed as a poorer relation of the construction industry” and projects commencing on-site in recent months, and hopefully with the introduction by the Government of the Home Renovation Scheme, it will lead to an increased level of work and create more direct new jobs for our members over the coming months”.

TIME TO RE-EvALUATE Looking at these recent figures you would have to feel positive about the future. The economy is improving and hopefully, with the increased demand for homes and the recent home improvement tax incentives offered by the government, more homeowners and homebuilders will create an increase in demand for landscaping services. As we begin to embark on another year, it is now the ideal time to re-evaluate

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

your rates to make sure you’re still competitive, but not at the expense of your profitability or ability to provide high quality service.

In order to reassess your rates you must calculate what your current business overhead costs are. Ask yourself have certain costs, such as insurance, increased? Have certain costs, such as staff costs, reduced?

Once you get a clear picture of what your current overheads are, you’re one step closer to becoming more competitive. You may find that your overheads have actually increased in the last 18 months but you have failed to take this into consideration when tendering for work. You might have been wondering where all your profits have disappeared from the job that you thought was a lucrative one.

There has been a high level of frustration within the industry over the last number of years with low pricing, especially on some of the larger contracts that were up for tender by local authorities around the country.

But the truth of the matter is that these contracts were won by companies who know exactly what their overheads are, have found methods to reduce those overheads and understand how to charge for them. The companies that won the contracts are still in business so all we can do is presume that they are turning over some level of profit. And something else you should keep in mind: a company’s overheads will change over time and no two companies have the same overheads. That is why it is important for landscapers to review their costs on a constant basis.

06 / CONSTRUCT EqUIPMENT IS A DIRECT COST, NOT AN OvERHEAD A critical mistake many contractors make is to include the cost of machinery when calculating their overhead costs. While this is a convenient way to manage equipment costs, it is not accurate and will result in uncompetitive overhead rates.

For instance, you own a mini digger and a ride-on lawnmower and you include the costs for this equipment in your overhead cost, and then mark-up labour and materials in order to recover that overhead, you’ll be charging customers for the mini-excavator and the mower when you aren’t using them. Equipment is directly related to performing work, and thus must be treated as a direct cost. You must charge for the use of your equipment on an hourly basis, just as you do with the cost of your staff.

CHARGING OvERHEADS TO YOUR CLIENTS There are many ways of recovering your overhead costs and everybody has a different opinion on how to do that. One popular method is to estimate how many hours you and your staff will invoice in a year, and divide your total overhead for the year by that number.

For example, if you have €20,000 in outgoings and plan to invoice for 3,500 hours, you would add €5.71 to your currently hourly labour rate.

There are two disadvantages to this labour-only approach. Firstly, you may lose a lot of labour-intensive jobs, and secondly, you may be considerably less profitable on equipment-intensive and/or materials-intensive jobs. Why? Because you are forcing labour to recover all of your overheads. So, you charge too much on labour-intensive jobs, and don’t charge enough on equipment and/or materials-intensive jobs. On the other hand, when you use an overhead recovery system that taps into all direct costs i.e. labour, materials, equipment and subcontractors, you are able to more precisely price each job.

My advice is to mark-up each of these four areas of direct costs—in a manner of which the majority of the risk is placed on labour; not 100% of the risk, but the majority of it.

THE TOP FIVE PRICING ACTIVITIES FOR 2014 ● Re-evaluate your company’s’

cost base ● Identify and calculate your

current overhead costs ● Recognise how to pass on

overhead costs to customers ● Construct a rate-based

estimating system for your business ● Stay positive

ESTIMATING FOR PROFIT As is the case with calculating hourly equipment costs and recovering expenditures, estimating is a skill combined with experience. In general contractors do not allocate enough time to estimating the job. The skill of estimating can be learned but care is need not to making costly mistakes while learning this skill. Successful and experienced contractors have an established production rate-based estimating system. This system reduces financial risks to the contractor by building up appropriate rates and unit prices for different situations and types of activities.

Assume you are going to price a maintenance job. You would, of course, want to measure the area of the lawn you need to cut. But it’s not quite that simple. When it comes to grass cutting, it’s important to separately measure the areas where you can use a zeroturn mower, and the areas where you’ll need to use a push mower, for example.

That’s because you will have different production rates and hourly operating costs for each of those pieces of equipment.

You also want to measure the length of grass you will need to edge. Measure the size of the beds you will need to

weed and mulch, along with the area of hard surfaces you will need to spray or power wash.

With a production rate-based estimating system, you also want to account for varying site conditions.

That is, if part of the maintenance contract is shrub maintenance, set up three classifications—small, medium and large—because you will allocate a different amount of time to pruning each type area. It’s also a good idea to set up classifications such as easy, average and difficult for mowing. No two properties are alike. Some are wide open, some are hilly, and some have a lot of obstacles and small pockets of communal areas that required your services. It’s important to take these variables into consideration when formulating a price for the job.

IT IS YOUR DECISION Business conditions are improving, but it’s still very competitive out there and tendering for work successfully still requires contractors walking a thin line between getting the contract and making money or getting the contract and losing their shirt. Whether or not you raise or lower your prices, it is up to you.

The landscape industry has weathered downturns before, and will again. While nobody enjoys harsh times, a sense of perspective will serve you well in allowing your company to navigate the current choppy seas. By constantly reviewing overheads, your company can continue to succeed in this challenging climate, and emerge even stronger.

Advice is based on accurate, logical techniques that worked for me when I was a contractor, and continue to work for the contractor clients and customers I work with today. Implementing these strategies takes discipline and hard work; it’s up to you to make them happen. ✽

COLM KENNY, B Ag. Sc. (Land. Hort), M.Sc. Quantity Surveying. Colm is a Landscape Estimating Specialist. He provides cost and implementation advice to landscape industry professionals, technical advisors, contractors and zfacility management companies.

He can be contacted on 087 288 5016 or by email info@landscapeqs.ie

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

31

06 / CONSTRUCT

13.5

THE LUCkY NUMBER FOR 2014

ALCI President Peter O’Toole outlines how work undertaken by the association to secure landscape work as part of the Home Renovation Incentive Scheme could have a huge impact for Irish contractors

A

dvance Notice: If you are in a situation where your landscape company suffers greatly from the rare commercial condition of WTMC (Way Too Many Contracts), there’s no point in reading on and putting yourself under more unnecessary pressure.

“As a result of the meeting he agreed to put a case to the Minister of Finance to have landscaping included in the bill” The Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI) has been lobbying for a government backed incentive scheme that would help its members to continue to grow their businesses. The opportunity fortuitously arose last October when all the stars (celestial – not egotistical Landscape Contractors) aligned over a short period of time to allow the ALCI achieve their goal. The ALCI Annual Awards followed on shortly after last year’s budget, in which the Minister for Finance announced the introduction of the HRI (Home Renovation Incentive) Scheme. The scheme was to allow private individuals to claim back the VAT element (13.5%) of any construction works which they were going to have carried out on their primary residence (between the value range of €5,000 to €30,000). Identifying that this was exactly the scheme which we were seeking, the Minister of State, Mr Tom Hayes’ ear was unapologetically bent

32

during dinner as he, as the guest of honour at the ALCI Awards, was about to make his presentation. We stressed the importance of including landscape works in the proposed scheme. Then, after presiding over the whole awards ceremony, he admitted to being very impressed. Listening sympathetically to our arguments, he agreed to a follow up meeting. As a result of the meeting he agreed to put a case to the Minister of Finance to have landscaping included in the bill, which was going through its final draft before being published.

Naturally, great delight was expressed when the good news came through and confirmation that landscape works were to be included. This result is significant from two points of view.

Firstly, it demonstrates the ALCI’s ability to lobby on relevant issues for our industry and being the only association representing landscape contractors in Ireland, we would hope that this result would encourage others to join and build a greater force (strength through numbers). Secondly, and the main reason for pushing for inclusion in the scheme, was that it helps maintain our professionalism in a sector which is plagued by the shadow economy.

In so doing, it raises the profile of the association, its members and any other tax compliant landscape contractors.

It has to be considered an invaluable marketing tool for any professional landscape contractor (apart from those warned off at the start of this article) working in the domestic/private sector.

This comes at a period in the Irish economic cycle when there appears to be a more positive sentiment and attitude towards spending. Whether or not this is based upon anything solid or financially sustainable remains to be seen, but it shouldn’t deter us from

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

preparing and using this scheme to best advantage as we emerge from winter and hopefully the difficult recent years.

In a recent survey carried out on behalf of the Sunday Times (January 5th), entitled ‘Behaviour and Attitudes’ poll, which was measuring the extent of public confidence in the current economy and their plans for spending in the coming year; 23% stated that they were planning to extend or renovate their family home. The challenge then arises in how to generate public awareness of the HRI scheme, and how to let clients and potential clients know that firstly, the scheme exists, and secondly, that they can claim for landscaping works, either as part of other construction works or preferably as stand-alone works up to the total value of €30,000.

“It will often still come down to the contractor explaining the scheme and spelling out the benefits face to face” The scheme is only of additional benefit, as a way of generating contracts, if there is greater public awareness. The ALCI is aiming to promote it in all of its marketing campaigns planned for this year. Contractors should include the information, or a summary of it, in all quotations sent out. There will generally be an understanding that the scheme covers building/house renovation works so whenever a chance arises, such as radio programmes and local newspapers, then landscape contractors

06 / CONSTRUCT should try to get the message across that all landscape/garden works are included. It should be included on companies’ websites and Facebook posts and on any other leaflet or promotional campaigns. Even with the best advance promotion in place, it will often still come down to the contractor explaining the scheme and spelling out the benefits face to face with the client and hopefully assuring them of the simplicity of implementing it. For this reason, it is essential that those contractors eligible to use it are fully familiar with its workings.

The aim is to have the HRI processed electronically through The Revenue OnLine System (expected to be fully functioning for April). However, it is currently effective and instructions on how to operate it in advance of the online system can be found on www. revenue.ie under HRI. THE FOLLOWING EXTRACT ON THE RIGHT IS FROM THE WEBSITE.

When the new electronic HRI system is available, Contractors will enter Works Notifications in advance of commencing works.

The Works Notification will include a description of the works, the address of the main home where the works will be carried out, the estimated cost of the works including a VAT breakdown, the estimated start and end dates for the works. Homeowners will look up the Works Notification in advance of works commencing to ensure that the Contractor qualifies. Contractors will enter payments received (Payments Notifications) from Homeowners.

Homeowners will look up the Payments Notifications as well as entering their tax credit claim. ✽

KORALEY NORTHEN

HOW WILL THE HRI OPERATE ELECTRONICALLY?

PETER O’TOOLE Dip. Hort.

(Kew) is the President of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland, a Director of Peter O’Brien and Sons (Landscaping) Ltd and a leading commentator on Ireland’s Landscape Contracting sector.

He can be contacted on 01 845 2555 and peter@obrienlandscaping.com

FLANNERY’S NURSERIES

Staplestown, Donadea, Naas, Co Kildare Tel: 045 869 131 Email: flannurs@iol.ie www.flannerysnurseries.com

MELLIFONT ABBEY GARDENS

ORDER NOW for

SPRING/SUMMER FLOWERING PLUG PLANTS Mellifont Abbey, Collon, Louth

BARE ROOT & ROOT-BALLED TREES & HEDGING IN STOCK NOW

HEDGING

Great selection of Hedging from 1ft to 5ft l Common Laurel l Cupress l Leylandii l Photinia Red Robin l Privet l Green & Copper Beech l Hawthorn l Yew l Box & many more

TREES

Great selection of Large Trees from 1ft to 5ft Birch l Lime l Flowering Cherry l Maples l Also many other native & ornamental varieties available

www.mellifontabbeygardens.ie

Contact us for all your native Trees & Hedging for the AEOS and REPS(Teagasc Approved)

F: +353 (0)41 982 6546

You are welcome to visit the nursery where you can select and collect your own or delivery available nation-wide.

T: +353 (0)41 982 6216

E: mellifontgardens@eircom.net

Open: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 8am-3.30pm (Closed Sundays & Bank Holiday weekends)

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

33

07 / LANDSCAPE

PHOTO BY ANDREAS KRAPPWEIS

CHANGE UNDERFOOT

Dr Christy Boylan examines how Ireland’s parks and green spaces are evolving to meet new challenges

T

he original concept of public parks was influenced by the poor quality of life being experienced by people working long hours in UK factories during the 19th century. Employers were anxious that employees work performance would not deteriorate and outdoor spaces were seen as one option for addressing this.

At that time, they were not sufficiently aware of the importance of recreation, and indeed, games such as football were forbidden in public parks, being considered disruptive of the peace and solitude. By the 20th century public parks were regarded as being an essential part of an urban complex.

In general, they were intened to cater for active and passive recreational pursuits with trees being viewed as positive enhancements to street fabric.

In Ireland, parks were, and still are managed by the local authorities (with the exception of national and historic parks, which are managed by the Office of Public Works) and public appreciation was usually a given because the standard of maintenance was generally high. In the era prior to the availability of herbicides and pesticides, labour was much less expensive. Generally, staff numbers were sufficient to deal with the day to day tasks, as well as developing new areas

34

during the summer period. Flowerbed displays highlighted the local authority’s role in enhancing the city and they gave much pleasure to its citizens, as well as job satisfaction to employees in Parks Departments. Many people expressed approval that rates on their dwellings were going towards such work. During this period much park development was undertaken. And then things changed.

In 1977, the Government, under Jack Lynch as Taoiseach, abolished rates on private dwellings, which meant that local authorities would then be supported by the Rate Support Grant from the Government funds. This reduced their ability to raise funds locally and made them more dependent on funding from other sources such as fees for planning applications. “We do not have the funding” became the common answer to requests from the public for improvements. During the recession of 1989, staff numbers were reduced by approximately 25%. In response to these changes, Parks Superintendents adopted techniques such as the use of herbicides for weed control as well as changes in maintenance regimes for grasslands, by allowing some areas to become more natural and encouraging wildflowers.

Choice of machinery also became more important and larger mowing equipment was purchased for large parks.

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

07 / LANDSCAPE

“A reduced parks staff are now responsible for parks, open spaces, cleaning streets, litter and dumping control, graffiti, burial grounds and allotments” Some authorities availed of FAS schemes to support their works programmes. Meanwhile, the more discerning public were becoming more interested in what was happening in their areas. This meant that Council staff spent more time in meetings with residents’ associations discussing management issues for their open spaces.

Within offices, work routines changed; the daily post would arrive in the morning and after distribution, the planned activities for that day were undertaken. However, the onset of the computer age revolutionised how the public engaged with their local councils. The relationship became far more service provider and customer orientated with enquiries having to be dealt with within specified time periods. As customers, we understand the need to receive speedy answers to our enquiries but from a professional’s viewpoint, this interferes with other planned activities. During the boom years there was an emphasis on training employees to undertake ownership of their work. This has been the hallmark of the vast majority of staff in all grades. Some even invested their own money and time in visiting parks with work colleagues in other regions and other countries to learn about new techniques or new plants.

And then things changed again.

For the past five years, Ireland has endured a series of cutbacks in the public service with an emphasis on people working longer hours for less income. It is understandable therefore that change by various authorities will impact on structures and the quality of service in many areas of the public service, including the management of parks and open spaces. While budget restrictions have been a major driving force for change, there is also the aim to become more user friendly, where people should not need to understand structures to be able to access services. Dublin City Council established five administrative areas with public access to all departments through an Area Manager. Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council still operate what I term the traditional model of a Parks Department, whereby the staff (albeit fewer of them) are deployed only in the management of parks (including areas such as the North Bull Island), open spaces and street trees from a network of depots within the administrative region. Management entails capital works schemes of building and improving parks as well as ongoing maintenance. At a corporate level Parks Departments contribute landscape architecture, natural science, arboriculture and horticultural expertise to corporate projects and policy development within the Council. They also undertake a range of other functions such as advising the Planning Department on planning applications, civic decoration including regular flag flights and floral displays and working with communities on enhancing their areas.

In Fingal and South Dublin County Councils, the traditional model of parks management has been modified.

Management’s response to financial restrictions, combined with the movement to break down departmental barriers, has

seen an emphasis on the public realm, whereby staff engage in multi-tasking. In Fingal, the changes entailed a separation between regional parks and open spaces. The regional parks are still managed by parks staff with an expanded brief of tourism, because places like Malahide Castle are important elements of tourism infrastructure. Responsibility for open spaces and street trees are combined with the Roads Maintenance Division under a new heading of Operations.

In South Dublin, staff in the Parks and Landscape Services Department are combined with the Environment Department.

The latter usually dealt with household bin collections and landfills but their main activity is now dealing with street sweeping and litter bins. This means that the combined staff now operating under the Public Realm Division deal with parks, open spaces and cleaning streets, litter and dumping control, graffiti, burial grounds and allotments. That entails learning new skills and for those whose particular interest is in horticulture, the job is less interesting than it was previously.

These changes are not unique to Ireland; the same has happened in many local authorities in the UK against the background of ensuring that the customer is not referred from one department to another whenever they have a complaint or an enquiry. Indeed, the UK is experiencing a very serious issue regarding financing and a recent document entitled “Rethinking Parks” by Peter Neal has outlined a number of funding models for the 21st century. It seems that further reductions in public expenditure on parks maintenance are envisaged, and has set out some alternatives such as concessions, establishing trusts and more local involvement.

The kernel of the problem is that parks are a discretionary function of local authorities whereas libraries are a mandatory function. By law, councils are obliged to maintain libraries.

In Ireland, section 180 of the Planning and Development Act

ABOVE: FATHER COLLINS PARK IN NORTH DUBLIN IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF A CONTEMPORARY PARK WHICH EMPLOYED A VARIETY OF SUSTAINBLE APPROACHES

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

35

07 / LANDSCAPE

ABOVE: THE USE OF NATIVE SPECIES IS ONE STRATEGY BEING EMPLOYED TO LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS WHILE INCREASING BIODIVERSITY.

“The kernel of the problem is that parks are a discretionary function of local authorities, whereas libraries are a mandatory function” 2000 requires councils to commence the taking in charge of residential developments, finished or unfinished, where requested by the majority of qualified electors who own or occupy the houses. This means that councils can be forced to take open spaces into charge; but there is nothing in the law that states the standard of maintenance that should be applied. Therefore councils can legally reduce standards of maintenance of parks and open spaces when budgetary restrictions are imposed. The downside of such action can lead to unsafe conditions and greater exposure to public liability claims. Also, if the maintenance standard of public parks drops, visitor numbers will decrease. The parks will become havens for anti-social activities resulting in vandalism and leading to fewer and fewer visitors, thus creating a vicious circle. Park management should aim for the virtuous circle to attract visitors who in turn encourage more visitors and increase the feeling of security, with less frequency of vandalism.

The irony here is that local property tax (the modern replacement for domestic rates) is now in place and one of the big arguments made by politicians introducing the tax was the need to maintain public parks. In that regard, it should be noted that the International Federation of Parks & Recreation Administration (IFPRA) has in the past year produced a document entitled “Benefits of Urban Parks”, in which they have revealed that research work has proven strong evidence for a link between parks and the value of property. Therefore, where parks are well maintained, they influence the value of adjacent property through the virtuous circle and of course where parks are run down, then the value of adjacent property decreases through the vicious circle. It makes the case for investing in parks and maintaining a high standard. Then as property values increase so also does the property tax for the Council. So let’s be positive about the future of public parks and hope this new tax will help to maintain standards.

36

While these structural changes are happening there are also other changes taking place such as the provision of cycleways and allotments in public parks. The introduction of allotments is a more recent phenomenon. In the past they were assigned to council lands not required for immediate development.

In South Dublin, allotments were provided in Tymon Park in Tallaght in 2004 and in Corkagh Park in Clondalkin in 2005.

Now they form part of Parks policy in other local authorities.

Fingal Parks Department in particular has taken a lead with this initiative and established large allotment schemes in the county. The emphases on environmental sustainability and reduction of energy have also brought some changes. Many herbicides much used in the past are no longer available and the use of chemicals is no longer regarded as good practice.

This will entail more demands on manual and cultural means of weed control. Reduction in grass maintenance has changed the appearance of parks and open spaces, especially with the introductions of perennial plants. Professor Nigel Dunnett from Sheffield University recently gave an inspiring presentation in the Botanic Gardens on the use of annual flowers planted to form urban meadows; he highlighted their success at the new Olympic Park in London and elsewhere.

The use of volunteers to assist in parks maintenance was very successful in Central Park in New York and in Helsinki – it has yet to happen in Ireland. Perhaps this is an urban phenomenon because the 851 centres (mainly in rural Ireland) which participate in the Tidy Towns Competition represent between 15,000 and 20,000 volunteers who work very hard every year to improve their environment. The Office of Public Works encourages volunteers to assist in their management of parks, and in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown they envisage significant use of volunteers in the future, for example tree wardens to assist in the electronic inventory of street trees. In other countries, public parks are a strong bonding force for communities in urban areas; perhaps with the influx of people from other nations in the past decade this may happen in the future in Ireland. ✽

ABOUT DR CHRISTY BOYLAN Having studied in Ireland and the UK, Dr Boylan went on to become a Senior Executive Landscape Architect with Dublin Corporation and then Head of the Parks and Landscape Services Department. Among his diverse professional activities, he was a founder member and first president of Tree Council of Ireland (1985 – 1990), Fellow and former President of the Irish Landscape Institute, IFPRA World Commissioner for Ireland and Chair of IFPRA Europe (2006 – 2009) and he is now Secretary of IFPRA Europe and VicePresident on the IFPRA World Executive.

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

07 / LANDSCAPE

TRENDS IN THE LANDSCAPE OF MAN

Tony Williams, President of the Irish Landscape Institute, outlines how challenges and opportunities facing his profession may impact upon the horticulture sector and our nation as a whole

T

his article is the product of discussions with colleagues and friends, and from the perspective of a human being, temporarily occupying a small piece of a landscape on a fragile planet. The issues outlined below are of critical importance, not only to the profession of landscape architecture, but to all those involved at the interface of the human species and the rest of the planet.

MORE THAN SIMPLY THE STUFF OUTSIDE… The word ‘landscape’ is popularly understood as referring to all outdoor space, but of course it may also refer to the interiors of building and structures. While my profession is generally focused on the outdoor

landscape, it may also be directed at interior spaces and with the design and construction of the interior landscape.

It is expected that by 2030, over five billion people will live in urban spaces. That’s a lot of people and a lot of infrastructure, all of which will need to be mediated with planting of some form. Coupled with this, emerging data on the positive impact plant material has on workplace productivity, psychological wellbeing and sick building syndrome and we have a huge challenge ahead of us. But the adaptation of our plant palettes

and related knowledge and skills will afford us a massive opportunity - one we can all benefit from.

IT TAKES MANY HANDS TO MAkE qUALITY SPACE… Provision of public place and ‘place making’ is a primary task of landscape architects in tandem with our colleagues in the planning, engineering, architectural and horticultural professions. Indeed, the provision of public space also draws on many principles of psychology and sociology so can be truly termed multidisciplinary.

“It is expected that by 2030, that over five billion people will live in urban spaces” February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

37

07 / LANDSCAPE

ABOVE: THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND USE OF IRISH PARKS HAS UNDERGONE HUGE CHANGE OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS

In addition to being multidisciplinary, public space also covers the design, construction and maintenance of a wide diversity of contexts and scenarios including; ● Urban building (and rural villages, the

crossroad, the built environment in general) ● Traffic corridors, the roads, railway, footpaths ● The social environment of the street, the home and place of work ● The planted or soft landscape environment While we are all responsible for public space and place making, it is of particular importance and relevance to landscape architects.

Public spaces include both streets and urban hard landscape environments and also urban and rural parks. In addition, the countryside or suburban areas have many natural or manmade green spaces such as along river or transport corridors which, with some attention from our disciplines, may be enhanced. The presence and enhancement of such greenspaces is a primary function and benefits from the collaboration of landscape architects and horticulturists in the main.

We have yet to achieve it, but there is massive potential in drawing the various strands of the landscape sector together to deliver healthy, sustainable and environmentally supportive spaces.

It will benefit us all.

IRELAND’S NATIONAL LANDSCAPE STRATEGY… OR LACK OF IT The publication of the European Landscape Convention (ELC) and its ratification by Ireland in 2004

38

was welcome. However, one of the requirements of the ELC was the development and adoption of a National Landscape Strategy (NLS). The development of this is a key aim of the Irish Landscape Institute (ILI) and we have been working with Government Departments to assist its development.

The lack of such an NLS results in the absence of a framework within which infrastructure such at the proposed Eirgrid network, potential wind farms and other major infrastructural projects can be planned. Landscapes, and particularly the sensitive rural and urban landscapes, will receive little protection without a coherent and robust NLS. We would hope that the publication and enactment of the NLS is imminent. Where landscape impacts are expected and unavoidable from such major infrastructure projects, perhaps the combination of good design and mitigation strategies including soft landscape may offer a partial solution.

The development of the NLS would undoubtedly result in a better understanding of the value and quality of our landscape. One of the challenges will of course be the adoption of the NLS by both the myriad of government departments and agencies and the population in general. The NLS and the structures and legislation required to support it would assist the protection and sympathetic development of our landscape, thus presenting new opportunities for the landscape profession.

PLANTING SCHEMES IN RESPONSE TO CHANGING CLIMATE Climate change is an issue which is

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

increasingly to the fore due to the profound effects of the growth of industrialisation and its effects which in turn are exacerbated by rising population. The responses and solutions to climate change require a political dimension but also short and long term technical solutions.

One of the effects of climate change is the apparent increase in extreme weather events, both in terms of extended dry periods (in the east of the country) and more frequent and damaging floods and storms.

Our maintenance regimes will have to adapt to reflect these changed circumstances. This will require us to revise our maintenance strategies including the use of irrigation systems which may be somewhat unexpected for our maritime climate (we do tend to consider it a rainy country). In tandem with more appropriate development and planning, we have an increased need to provide innovative flood attenuation schemes along rivers with the development of tidal and coastal schemes being required to prevent erosion and to ‘control’ expected flood events.. Many of these innovative solutions rely on natural systems in order to be both low cost and sustainable, for example the use of willow and alder to reinforce river banks and the planting or hydroseeding of slopes in order to stabilise. The combination of landscape architectural design and horticulture has of course been a key element in landscape construction for many years, but this is becoming increasing important with the increase in awareness and promotion of green infrastructure.

THE NEED FOR qUALITY GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE In 2013, both the European Union and the Irish government have published stated goals to develop international and national strategies for green infrastructure. These will direct attention to the multiple functions of green space; aesthetic, economic, cultural, environment, sociological, historic and educational, to name but a few. The cultural dimension to plants and planting schemes, providing necessary inputs to the biosphere such as pollination and urban crops, treatment of pollutants by plants, repairing and enhancing

07 / LANDSCAPE biodiversity and ensuring habitat connectivity. The ILI held an international conference in 2012 on the theme of green infrastructure and the strong interest from delegates across different sectors showed the importance for landscape architects and managers of taking stock of the undervalued resources of green space in Ireland. We intend to hold a similar event in the near future which will be announced on our website in due course. Research into the principles of green infrastructure is ongoing and the use of the principles in projects could generate increased resources for investment in green space provision. All of this forecasts a need for the landscape sector to capitalise on this investment and produce sustainable designs and an available source of plant material.

THE REGULATION OF OUR PROFESSION Landscape architects are currently not regulated by the state and it is the sole responsibility of the Irish Landscape Institute to do so. We maintain a register

of fully qualified landscape architects who are trained in accordance with the principles established by the International Federation of Landscape Architects. It is also incumbent on our colleagues in associated professions to acknowledge this. Though some practitioners currently use the title, we would urge the profession and the public in general to ensure to employ fully qualified landscape architects on their projects. You will find our membership list on our website.

THE SAME SUSTAINABLE HYMN SHEET… The above challenges and opportunities represent only some of those facing our profession (and our planet) and were chosen primarily to demonstrate the benefits of the collaboration of design and horticulture. Landscape architecture is much more than just using plants and horticulture but these elements and the botanical components are crucial to the success of both our built and natural landscapes. ✽

TONY WILLIAMS MLArch. MILI is current President of the Irish Landscape Institute and Vice President (Education) of the International Federation of Landscape Architects in Europe. He is the Principal Landscape Architect with the Railway Procurement Agency and is involved in the design and delivery of infrastructural projects.

For more information on the ILI and its members, visit www.irishlandscapeinstitute.com. For information on IFLA Europe, visit www.europe.iflaonline.org

Design by Nature

Wildflowers.ie

NATIVE IRISH WILD FLOWER GROWER & SUPPLIER SINCE 1990

Hennessy Nurseries Leading

h Specialist Vegetable Grower h

Serving Garden Plant Retailers Across Ireland

h We Grow Over 170 vegetable varieties h Supplying the retail sector since 1952

l 60 Wildflower Seed Mixtures in 4 Unique Ranges l Lowest Native Wildflower Prices in Europe l Choose from Over 180 species All enquiries to www.wildflowers.ie Mr Sandro Cafolla T/A Design By Nature Tel: 056 444 2526 Email: info@wildflowers.ie

h Our horticulture roots traced back through 5 generations of our family to the late1800s h Commitment to our customers has never been stronger

Call Pat: 087 843 3739 or Liz 087 777 2215 Fax 063 91893 Email: hennessynurseries@eircom.net Twitter @hennessysveg (Its not all about the Veg)

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

39

08 / INSIGHT

TAkE 2014 FOR GRANTED

Grant applications are often seen as something that other people do. Often, the application process can appear beyond the efforts of mere mortals, and many companies simply lose out because of the perceived complexity of submitting one. There is no magical secret to writing a successful grant application, but there are things you can do to increase your chances of success. To help you make the most of what’s out there, Dr Theodora Lola-Luz, expert grant application writer with AgriFood Scientific, sets out a simple-to-follow list of do’s and don’ts.

40

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

08 / INSIGHT

PREPARATION OF THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU MAKE AN APPLICATION, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK. BELOW IS A SIMPLE PREPARATION CHECK LIST:

1

Research the funding body’s mission and interests carefully and try to integrate some key phrases into the text.

2

Be strategic about the grants you are applying for. Writing an application that is unlikely to be funded isn’t necessarily a good use of resources.

3

Check the funding body’s website for previous successful proposals to see how well your idea lines up with what has been funded in the past.

4

Make sure you are applying for the right grant and that you fulfil the eligibility criteria.

5

Carefully read the guidelines for applicants and the evaluation criteria.

6

Make a short-list of potential funding bodies.

See the end of this article for an indicative list.

7

Consult with your financial advisor or bank manager as they might be able to provide additional support.

8

Discuss potential opportunities with colleagues who may have successfully completed a grant process.

“Don’t be unrealistic about your budget, check prior to submission which costs are eligible and make sure that all figures add up”

WRITING THE PROPOSAL This is by far the most time consuming aspect of the process and it shouldn’t be rushed. Below is an easy to follow checklist on what the writing process involves: ● Include all relevant documentation requested by the funding agency. ● Note the maximum amount of funding you can request and stay within the limits. ● Be specific and concise. The chances of being funded “to do something somewhere” are extremely slim.

Remember that reviewers are reading many proposals and they need to know what you want to do, why you are doing it and why should you be funded. ● Provide as much detail and as many examples as possible. ● Avoid giving information irrelevant to the context of the application just to impress the reviewer – it’s more likely they will get confused, ● Avoid using jargon. Clearly explain why you are looking for the grant and make it easier for the reviewer to see the value in funding your project and not the next one, ● Adhere to the page limit set by the funding agency, ● Whenever possible obtain supporting letters for your application from other stakeholders. ● Avoid inflating budget figures; explain in detail what you need, why you need it, and how much it will cost. ● Ask for professional help from consultants who have experience with grant applications to help you draft your application

CHECKING AND PROOFREADING After you have finished writing your proposal, it is very important to proofread the text and make sure that

the funding body and reviewers receive a high quality proposal. Submitting a text full of spelling or typographical errors is very likely to negatively impact your chances of getting funded. A simple checklist of what to look out for is set out below. ● Give yourself enough time to prepare multiple drafts of the proposal.

Writing a good grant application takes time to plan, outline, revise and polish the final draft. ● Double and triple check everything including typographical errors, spelling, grammar mistakes and punctuation problems before you submit. ● Don’t be unrealistic about your budget. Check prior to submission which costs are eligible and make sure that all figures add up. ● Get in touch with the funding body for clarification on specific sections of the application; it’s their job to answer your queries. ● Ask for professional help from consultants who have experience with grant applications to assist you with proofreading your proposal.

SUBMISSION This is the final stage involved in any application for funding. Here is a simple checklist you can follow prior to submission: ● Don’t rush to submit applications for an unrealistic deadline. ● Follow the submission guidelines to the letter. ● Read your application one more time before you submit to make sure that all requested documentation has been included and that you have left no section of the application blank. ● Make sure you adhere to the submission deadline. If submitting an application online, do so earlier than the deadline as oftentimes systems can be overloaded with everyone rushing at the last minute.

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

41

08 / INSIGHT

“Carefully read the guide to applicants and adhere to it”

THE TOP TEN MISTAKES MADE ON GRANT APPLICATIONS Seeking funding can be challenging and requires a certain level of technical knowledge. Many proposals don’t get a fair chance because of amateur errors that can easily be avoided. Here is an insider’s view on some of the most common mistakes.

1

Applying for grants you are not eligible for A common complaint of funding bodies is that a lot of applications are received which are not within the scope of what a particular organisation funds. Such disappointment in not getting that grant can easily be avoided by careful reading of the guide for applicants or the eligibility criteria.

2

Asking for too much money or not enough Asking funding bodies for an unrealistic amount of money is another reason for failing applications. Research carefully the funding body and if the average funding they provide is €100,000, then asking for €400,000 will not help you get that grant. At the same time don’t ask for too little in the belief that this will increase the chances of being successful.

3

Providing too much information Carefully read the guide to applicants and adhere to it. Applications which exceed the maximum page limit are often submitted in the hope they will be successful. The result is that either the application is disqualified, or it is returned with a request to be rewritten.

Funding bodies receive a vast amount of applications so it’s vital to follow their guidelines without wasting time and causing unnecessary delays.

4

Avoid jargon and buzz words Don’t be tempted to use buzz

42

words if they don’t apply to your business, just because you think this will give an edge to your application.

This will only confuse the reviewers when they read your application and they cannot see the connection between what you propose to do and the buzz words you are using.

5

Make sure the budget adds up Quite frequently, the budget in many applications simply does not add up. This is not because the applicant doesn’t know how to use a calculator but most likely because many people have edited the budget figures and they simply did not bother to check that the final amount requested adds up after all the changes.

6

Forgetting to tailor the application to the funder In the race to get funding, it is common practice to apply to many different funding bodies. If you submit the same proposal to each one of them without tailoring the application to the guidelines of each individual funding body the chances are that you set yourself up for disappointment.

7

Assuming the funder knows all about you and your business You may very well know what the funding body aims are but don’t expect the reviewers and the funder to know what you do. Don’t make the assumption that they will be familiar with your company and forget to provide vital information in your application. During the writing process, applicants often assume that everyone knows the details and is as passionate about their idea as they are themselves.

They omit to include basic information, such as what the project is about, who the beneficiaries are, how they plan to reach their aims and what impact will their project have.

8

The writing isn’t concise As a result reviewers will have a hard time understanding what you

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES BORD BIA MARKETING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (MAP) - DEADLINE 28TH OF FEBRUARY 2014 Bord Bia operates an annual grants programme - the Marketing Assistance Programme (MAP) – which is open to Irish food, drink and horticulture producers who have a turnover in the range €100k and €3.5m. The aim of the programme is to help companies improve their marketing techniques and capabilities, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and hygiene. Guidelines and application forms can be found at: www.bordbiavantage. ie/marketingbusiness/marketing/ pages/map.aspx

want to do and why you are asking for funding. Give your application to someone else not directly related to your business or idea to read before submission. This will help you identify parts that need to be clarified.

9

The application contains many typographical and grammatical errors In all likelihood the proposal will be read even if it contains such errors. However, consider the message that this sends to the reviewers. Take the time to ask other people or professionals to proofread your application.

10

The proposal was put together too quickly Reviewers can very easily identify proposals that were put together at the last minute. In such proposals it is very common that items are missing, budgets are incomplete and usually overestimated, and the text looks incoherent and unfinished. Don’t underestimate the time needed to properly formulate a funding application. ✽

08 / INSIGHT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE The Department of Agriculture operates a number of schemes available to farmers.

More information can be found at: www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments

ENTERPRISE IRELAND There are two schemes that may be of interest. The first one is the Innovation Voucher Scheme which aims to build links between Ireland’s public knowledge providers (i.e. higher education institutes, public research bodies) and small businesses. Innovation vouchers worth €5,000 are available to assist a company or companies to explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider. More information can be found at: www.enterprise-ireland. com/en/Research-Innovation/Companies/Collaborate-with-companies-researchinstitutes/Innovation-Voucher.shortcut.html.

The scheme is now closed but further calls will be announced in early 2014.

There is also the Innovation Partnership Programme which can provide up to 80% of the cost of research work to develop new and improved products, processes or services, or generate new knowledge and know-how.

For a list of submission dates: www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/FundingSupports/Researcher/Funding-to-Collaborate-with-Industry-in-Ireland/ Innovation-Partnerships.shortcut.html LOCAL ENTERPRISE BOARDS also have a number of grants available for business such as Feasibility Study/ Innovation Grant, Refundable Priming Grant, Microfinance Grant to name a few. More information can be found at: www.enterpriseboards.ie

DR THEODORA LOLA-LUZ is a funding specialist, working with AgriFood Scientific, a consultancy company specialising in research proposal and grant writing applications.

The founders have a combined experience of 20 years in horticultural research, molecular biology, agriculture and soil microbiology.

She can be contacted at dora@agrifoodscientific.eu Mobile 087 961 1789 www.agrifoodscientific.eu

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

43

COMMERCIAL / SPORTS SURFACES

Don’t guess it, soil test it...

Colman Warde, Everris Country Manager Ireland, details how effective soil sampling and testing can be utilised to underpin an efficient turfgrass fertilizing programme

E

uro for euro, fertilisation does more to improve poor quality turfgrass or to maintain good-quality turfgrass than any other management practice. Proper fertilisation practices produce a dense turf that resists pests and environmental stresses.

Careless application techniques or excessive amounts of fertiliser applied at the wrong time of year can result in serious turf damage and contamination of water resources Like all good decisions, correct fertiliser choice and application rates are based on accurate data. Although poor performing

turf can indicate underlying soil problems, one cannot identify soil pH and nutrient problems by sight. Soil analyses are needed to determine if these factors are limiting grass rooting and nutrient uptake.

If so, fertilisers are then recommended to rectify these nutrient levels.

Here are some guidelines for proper soil testing TAKE A PROPER SAMPLE A sample that adequately represents the soil area of interest is key. Soil pH and nutrient levels can be extremely

variable naturally, due to non-uniform applications of fertiliser and water. I have heard of pH variance between 6.0 and 8.5 within a single golf fairway due to differences in soil type. So, many samples across the entire site are required. If there are specific problem areas, there needs to be a composite sample taken as a sample taken from a full fairway, would lead to a confusing and improper reflection of the problem area.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUES Take fifteen to twenty soil cores randomly from throughout each

Precision Nutrition www.everris.ie colman.warde@everris.com Tel: 0877 799527 44

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

COMMERCIAL / SPORTS SURFACES sampling area using a 0.5” to 1.0” soil probe. Samples for pH and nutrients should be taken 6” to 8”(15-20cm) deep prior to turf establishment, but only 3” to 4”(7.5-10cm) deep thereafter.

Remove the thatch and turf layer and thoroughly mix the soil cores in a clean plastic bucket. Then fill a soil sampling kit box to the top with the sample and discard the excess.

Annual soil sampling is recommended for native soils but more frequent sampling may be prudent on sand based rootzones. Soil pH and nutrients levels can change rapidly on greens and tees, particularly when recently constructed. Seasonal variation in soil pH does occur, so standardising the time of sampling is a benefit to tracking the changes from year to year. Soil samples do not need to be dry before posting to the laboratory, but excessively wet samples should be air dried to a moist condition prior to shipping.

The best time to sample is when you can take the time to do a good job,

ideally before autumn or spring fertiliser applications. Do not sample shortly after fertiliser applications or when the soils are excessively wet.

FERTILISER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SOIL ANALYSIS Most soil testing laboratories make fertiliser recommendations for the major nutrients, Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg), and these recommendations are based on the ‘sufficient levels’ approach. This philosophy acknowledges that, as the soil test level of the nutrient increases, the chance of getting a response to adding that nutrient decreases and the magnitude of the response, if it occurs, is diminished.

At a low soil test nutrient level, a response to adding the nutrient is expected most of the time and the response should be relatively large.

Adding the nutrient to soil with a medium level of the nutrient should garner a growth response about half the

time, but the enhancement will be less than at low soil test levels.

Maintaining soil test levels in the upper part of the medium category, or the lower part of the high category, is a safe and efficient way to manage P, K, Ca and Mg. Building high soil test levels of P and K will be difficult in sand based rootzones, especially when recently constructed, because the ability to retain these nutrients is very limited.

Soil testing procedures can identify insufficient soil supplies of Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu), as well as excessive levels of Cu. Soil pH has such a dramatic effect on Mn availability that it must be used in combination with the soil test Mn level in order to make a fertilizer recommendation. For example, at a soil pH of 7.0, soil test Mn must exceed 9ppm to be sufficient . However, at a pH of 6.0, only 4ppm is needed.

Copper deficiencies in turfgrass are rare, only occurring in organic soils.

It should be noted that high levels of Phosphorus are usually present in the soil but are mostly tightly bound to the

Driven by innovation Inspired by nature

February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

45

COMMERCIAL / SPORTS SURFACES percent Base Saturation falls outside these ranges uptake of nutrients can be affected by ‘ion’ antagonism. For example, high exchangeable Calcium can reduce the uptake of Potassium and Magnesium, likewise high exchangeable Potassium can reduce the uptake of Magnesium. The ratio of Magnesium to Potassium should be greater than 2:1.

Applying results using the iTurf Nutrient Programme

soil, resulting in little free Phosphorus being available. The Phosphorus in each soil sample is analysed by specialist assays that measure only the available Phosphorus, and is therefore a true measure of the concentration available to the plant.

Using the Everris Soil Test kit The Everris soil analysis kit contains all the components for having six separate soil samples analysed. The laboratories where the samples are tested are independently operated using state of the art technology.

THE RESULTS The samples are analysed individually for the following: ● pH status of sample ● CEC Levels (Cation Exchange Capacity relates to the amount of nutrients that can be held and exchanged within the rootzone without risk of leaching). ● EC (Electrical Conductivity an indirect measurement of the salt content) ● Organic matter % ● Calcium (exchangeable) ● Magnesium (exchangeable) ● Potassium (exchangeable) ● Sodium (exchangeable) ● Phosphorus (available) ● Sulphur (available) ● Zinc (available)

46

● Manganese (available) ● Iron(available) ● % Base Saturation

The Base Saturation is defined as ‘the percentage of total CEC occupied by the so called ‘Base’ Cations such as Ca, Mg, Na and K’. It is an important part of the soil test as it gives an indication as to whether these nutrients are in balance and whether the turf grass has the correct nutrient availability. The amount of Soil Cations (Bases) can be manipulated by the application of fertiliser in order to create a balanced base saturation within the soil. Base Saturation should range from 50 – 75% Calcium, 11 – 20% Magnesium, 0.5 – 7.7%Potassium, 0 – 5% Sodium with the remainder being Hydrogen at 0 – 30% for optimum turf performance. If the

Once the results have been sent back we can then begin to draw up a designated I-Turf Nutrient Programme for that specific site. This is done by discussing the results with the client and drawing up a specific nutrient programme based on their needs and budget.

This takes into consideration the following; ● Turf type ● Rootzone ● Budget ● Application equipment ● Wear Every site is different with different groundsmen and greenkeepers having their specific preferences for nutrition amounts and types of inputs. These are all catered for in our recommendations.

Now is an ideal time to take your samples. To obtain your soil analysis kit, please contact me. I would be delighted to answer your questions and guide you through the process. ✽

COLMAN WARDE has been working for in turfgrass and amenity horticulture for over 15 years. He has worked for Everris/Scotts Professional on the Turf Amenity and Horticulture sector for over six years and is County Manager for Ireland.

Everris manufacture and supply the highest quality specialised nutrients for turf and horticultural plant protection and grass seed products.

Contact Colman at Tel:+353 (0)87 779 9527 E-mail: colman.warde@everris.com www.everris.ie

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

Hitachi and Tanaka Brush Cutter/Pole Saw/Pole Hedge Trimmer Voluntary Recall Notice We have become aware that some Hitachi and Tanaka brushcutters, pole saws and pole hedge trimmers have a manufacturing defect. This defect may cause the exhaust to become very hot so that there is a risk of suffering a burn in the event of accidental contact with the exhaust cover, or in extreme cases a risk that the machine could catch fire.

If you own a Hitachi or Tanaka brush cutter, pole saw or pole hedge trimmer, please check the model number to see whether it is on the list of affected models below.

Hitachi Models

Model Number

Sales Start

Tanaka Models

Model Number

Sales Start

CG22EAS

Jan 2010

TCG22EAS

Feb 2010

CG22EAD

Dec 2009

TCG22EAD

Apr 2010

CG22EAB

Dec 2009

TCG22EAB

Apr 2010

CG24EASP

Jun 2010

TCG24EASP

Dec 2011

CG27EASP

Jun 2010

TCG27EASP

Dec 2011

CS27EPAP

Apr 2013

TCS27EPAP

Jul 2013

CH27EPAP

Feb 2013

TCH27EPAP

Apr 2013

CG25EUS

Sep 2009

CG40EAS

Nov 2009

If you have an affected Brush Cutter please stop using it immediately.

We would like to carry out a simple modification to your Brush Cutter, which will make it safe.

In order to have your Brush Cutter modified: UK telephone

0800 148 8643

ROI telephone

1800 937 500

Email

(free from BT Landlines, charges from other networks and mobiles will vary)

(free from landlines only)

recall@hitachi-powertools.co.uk February 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

47

SUBSCRIBE

WHY SUBSCRIBE TO HORTICULTURE CONNECTED MAGAZINE? Your Bi-Monthly Trade Magazine for Horticulture Across Ireland Providing: ●

Indepth News

●

Features from Industry Experts

●

Interviews & Profiles

●

Sector Analysis

●

Events

●

Jobs

●

Tenders

●

Your Voice for Industry Issues Subscribe at

HORTICULTURE.IE THE PRICE FOR A YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION IS €84

It also includes exclusive access to premium news on HortiTrends plus a Business Directory Listing.

You can support Your Trade magazine by

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

Purchasing a Print or Digital Subscription.

ARTICLE 1

News, Analysis and Trends In Landscape & Amenity Horticulture

Lit estrum il eturior iorecus utam venis esequiae plam quiaectia cullame autem volorepudam qu 48

Online@ www.horticulture.ie

Phone@ 087 9212044 to pay by credit card.

Post@ HortiTrends, 20 The Cutlers, 33/34 Parliament Street, Dublin 2

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014

What previous visitors to the Trolley Fairs are saying...

‘Worth the visit’ ‘Nice display, good variety of plants’ ‘I find the fairs beneficial to see new products and to meet horticulturists / trade & retail’

IHNSA Trolley Fairs 2014 Your complimentary invitation to the series of Spring Trolley Fairs 2014. The IHNSA Spring Plant Fairs remain highly popular and supported by the Industry.

Register online now at www.trolleyfairs.com to meet 30 nurseries all in the one place at the same time, network with industry peers and see the best plant stock available.

When?

Fair one: Tuesday, 25th February 2014 from 10am – 4pm Fair two: Tuesday, 1st April 2014 from 10am – 4pm Where?

Trackside Pavilion, Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co. Kildare · A Wide Range of Irish Suppliers · Latest Varieties & Suppliers · New Ideas · Refreshments Available · Informal, Relaxed Atmosphere · Easily Accessible Venue · Free Car Parking

Organised by

Fully supported by Take the Naas North (Junction 9) off the N7 and follow the signs for Punchestown.

FANCY A BLOSSOMING CAREER IN HORTICULTURE? Are you interested in the environment and the outdoors?

Where your food comes from and how it grows?

How parks and golf courses are designed and cared for?

Are you creative and hands on?

If so Horticulture is the career for you.

To find out more about our full time courses for all budding horticulturists call us on 01 885 1530, e-mail: marketing@itb.ie or visit itb.ie

Facebook